By Eric Curl
April 28, 2024 – Plans were recently submitted to renovate a shuttered downtown city fire station for what the building’s owner says will be used as a local produce market.
The proposed renovations come almost five years after the city sold the building at 6 West Henry St. in August 2019 to Savannah-based Inman Park Properties. The Savannah City Council had approved the sale of the building in December 2018 after the company’s plan outscored two other proposals to acquire the site – partially due to the $1 million purchase price that was double the other offers.
Advertise with Savannah Agenda
Inman’s plan at the time of selection was to renovate the building for use as an 80-seat neighborhood cafe, create 75-full time jobs and activate the “somewhat stagnant block”, according to the proposal. Construction was to begin 120 days after closing and take one year to complete, as approved, but the building remains unused to this day.
Inman Park Properties’ owner Jeff Notrica said Friday that the cafe plan failed to materialize after a project partner was unable to come up with their end of the financing.
“That happens a lot in hospitably,” Notrica said. “A lot of people have great ambitions but not necessarily the financial backing to move forward.”
Built in 1947, the Henry Street building is located between two high-traffic corridors, Bull and Whitaker streets, in the Thomas Square Streetcar Historic District.
Notrica said the building’s new tenant comes from a family in the farming business that will be able to provide a lot of their own product for wholesale and retail sales seven days a week.
They anticipate opening in September, he said.
The tenant, listed as Nicole Moghaddam in the application, did not respond to requests for comment made earlier this month.
The fire station is located around the corner from a building at 1201 Bull St. that Notrica is planning on renovating for use as a 16-room inn, as previously reported.
The inn on the second floor would be located on top of the building’s ground occupants, which currently include Alexander’s Bistro, White Whale Craft Ales and Neighborhood Comics.
In addition, Notrica is planning to renovate the adjacent building at 11 West Duffy St., a former event hall, for use as a restaurant. Site plans were submitted last year and Notrica said the projects are currently going through the city’s permitting and review process.
If you find value in this website, please consider contributing via Paypal to help cover the costs. You can also send contributions via Venmo @Savannah_Agenda. Your support, no matter how much you give, is appreciated and will help ensure the future viability of this community resource. You can also show your support by sharing Savannah Agenda with others via email or social media. Increasing readership is critical to the long-term success of this site.
