Featured rendering by Rose Architects
By Eric Curl
Nov. 21, 2025 – Rose Architects recently submitted a height and mass petition and renderings for an office building to be constructed at 402 E. Broughton St., where the former Southern Motors building is currently located.
The proposed 4-story building’s ground floor will include a local bank, lobby for upstairs office space and covered parking area with a drive-thru, according to the project description. The partial fourth story will house a small multipurpose space and roof terrace.
The Savannah Historic District Board of Review approved the building’s demolition on Sept. 10, subject to the conditions that the building be documented per the city’s pre-demo documentation policy, and, if feasible, deconstructed with materials salvaged for reuse.
Queensborough National Bank & Trust Co. is planning to open a full-service bank at the location, according to Region President Michael English.
“The existing structure has some limitations, so we are leaning towards building new,” English said in June. “We have been on East Broughton since 2015 as a downstairs tenant of the John Berrien house which the bank owned at one point, so this is a natural progression for us.”
Queensborough acquired the Southern Motors building for more than $3.8 million in February, according to sales records. The building dates back to 1966 and served as a car dealership until Southern Motors Acura dealership moved out in 2019.
The Savannah Repertory Theater was the most recent occupant of the building after operating a black box theater at the site. The Children’s Theater has since purchased the recently closed Star Castle roller skating rink at 500 Mall Boulevard for $3 million on Oct. 7. The theater plans on turning it into a performing arts center and is currently seeking donors for the next stage, according to the website.
The bank’s height and mass petition is expected to go before the Historic District Board of Review at their Dec. 10 meeting.
Go to the Metropolitan Planning Commission’s home page to register to view the meeting online.
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