By Eric Curl
Aug. 5, 2021 – The city of Savannah may soon be free to do what they want with the shopping center on Waters Avenue, after previous plans for the building have been hindered by a long-term tenant.
It’s Amazing’s lease is set to expire on Sept. 30, about 13 years since the beauty shop began operating out of the building at Waters and 36th Street. Reached by phone, the owner, Hafez Mohsin, declined an interview request, but said he intended to seek a lease extension, if only for a couple months.
The business is the last remain commercial tenant in the building, following the departure of a barbecue restaurant, Off the Grill, which had been operating on a month-to-month lease. However, Chatham County, has a lease to operate a the Family Justice Center out of the building until June 30, 2022.
The city bought the shopping center in 2009 to build a police station there. That plan was eventually abandoned and the city’s later attempts to sell the property were hindered by a long-term lease with It’s Amazing. In April 2015, the Savannah City Council approved the $1.7 million sale of the property for redevelopment as a grocery store, but the deal fell through and the beauty shop chose to exercise a one-time five-year lease extension option that was included as part of the original lease.
The lease’s pending expiration comes as investors eye the Waters corridor. Last year, a developer had proposed the construction of two four-story mixed-use buildings across the street from the shopping center. The proposed zoning amendment was withdrawn in March due to opposition from residents and planning staff who raised concerns about the scale of the project. Waters Avenue Development, which has the same owner as It’s Amazing, had sold the properties in November last year for $550,000 to NY Savannah Waters, LLC, which lists Lewis Isaacson as the registered agent.
The historic Romana Riley school building to the north was also recently renovated for use as affordable senior housing. And the city has been doing some investing of its own, including streetscape improvements along Waters to boost economic by making the corridor more attractive and accessible.
#StayEngagedSavannah