Rather than binge watching Netflix, I research building permits and site plans. This column is based on what I find. These posts take a lot of time to create, but my hope is that they are condensed enough to keep you interested in between episodes. Enjoy, Eric Curl (Full disclosure: I sometimes binge while working on this. Vikings is my latest vice.)
Hutchinson Island
Mopper Turner Investments purchased almost nine undeveloped acres of the Residences at Savannah Harbor development on Hutchinson Island for $2.4 million on Dec. 30 2021, according to sales records. The purchase comes after Mopper Turner Investments purchase on Sept. 29 of 149 lots located in the 18-year-old planned community for $5.2 million. I keep trying to get local real estate broker Dicky Mopper (the Mopper in Mopper Turner) to talk about the plans for the development, but he has not been ready to share the details. Local restaurant owner (Pirates House) and developer Bob Turner makes up the other half. Meanwhile, I’m not sure if the few residents who actually live there are excited about the prospect of having some neighbors or bummed. I’d personally love to have an island practically all to myself.
Additionally, a different development group, Savannah Harbor Associates, has started work on another long-planned mixed-use development along the Savannah River east of the Westin. Plans for that 27-acre site, known as Savannah Harbor Parcel 5, include housing, retail, lodging, a public waterfront park, medical complex and marina.
Work on the Savannah Convention Center expansion is also underway on Hutchinson.
2201 Bull St.
A revised general development plan for the long-stalled Starland Village multi-use development was submitted on Dec. 21, 2021. The revised plan is for event space, a tavern, office space, a restaurant, retail space and residential units on multiple parcels. The submission of the revised plan comes almost four years since the Savannah City Council approved a rezoning request for the project, as reported in this Savanah Morning News article I wrote in my reporting days. The project was also challenged in court, but a Chatham County Superior Court judge dismissed the lawsuit opponents had filed against the city to stop the project , according to more of my coverage from back in the day. I emailed Foram on Jan. 21 to get some info on when we can expect to see some activity, but have yet to hear back.
01.24.2022 update: Travis Stringer with Foram posted an update about the project today on the Thomas Square/Starland Facebook page. It’s pretty lengthy so rather than posting it all here I made a PDF of of it that you can read by clicking here. Stringer said that as a result of the pandemic, they chose to pause the project in order to reassess the comprehensive plan and ensure it fit the new environment the pandemic has created. Stringer also said Foram has brought in a development partner, Equus Development Partners, who “shares an appreciation for the creative and historic fabric that defines our neighborhood.” Some of the key changes with the revised plan include:
- Elimination of the event venue use for the Historic Church, which will instead be developed as commercial/retail space.
- Removal of the of the structured parking planned on the Whitaker parking lot at the corner of Whitaker and 38th. The Whitaker property will remain a surface parking lot and they will still meet their parking requirements.
- The 3-story school building and the previously planned south building will be replaced with a new single residential building housing 58 Apartments.
2115 Bull St.
An application was submitted on Jan. 18 to construct a new five-story building with 59 residential units and ground-level parking. The property is owned by the Foram Group and is part of that developers Starland Village plan. In November 2018, the Savannah City Council had approved selling the property to for $687,000, as described in this article I wrote when journalism was my day job and not just a time sucking hobby. The building there previously housed the traffic division of the city’s police department. It is not clear if the sale was ever closed as approved, however. I have not been able to find a sales record and the property record indicates the city transferred the property to Savannah-based Double LL Dirt Holdings in November 2018. The purchase price is listed as $0, which is obviously not what was paid for the property. I guess what I’m saying is there is only so much you can find out during one’s off time.
641 West River St.
Note: This post has been updated to reflect the correct address of this project. The original post reported the project was being constructed at 641 Indian St., as incorrectly indicated by the building permit application. The project is actually being built across the street at 641 West River St, as noted in the building plans.
On Jan. 21, SCAD applied for a permit to construct a 17-story residence hall at 641 West River St. The proposed 248,650 square-foot residence hall includes 217 units and 818 beds. The university issued a $159 million bond for the project and others, as reported recently by Savannah Morning News reporter Zoe Nicholson.
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618 Montgomery St.
A site development plan was submitted on Jan. 12 for the construction of a new three story building with four upstairs apartments and street level commercial site. The property was purchased by Matador Development for $47,000 in August 2020, according to the property record.
541 East Broughton
A plan was submitted on Jan. 13 for the construction of a foundation for a 5-story multi-family building with a full basement level. The city traded the vacant lot to Row Pine Development in May 2019 for property it intended to use for a municipal center annex, according to the meeting minutes. Row Pine sold the property for $2.5 million in June 2019 to 541 E Broughton St LLC.
619 Anderson St.
A permit was issued in December to demolish the 66-year-old Beulah Baptist Church building and a trailer at 619 Anderson St. A new church is being planned for the site, according to the church’s website and the church is having worship services at another location until that project is completed. The building was demolished, but I understand from a friend’s post that the art over the door has been preserved, which is great.
1201 Bull St. & 11 Duffy St.
On Oct. 27, the Historic Preservation Commission staff recommended approval of the rehabilitation and alterations for the two buildings located on the same parcel at 1201 Bull St. and 11 West Duffy St., according to the staff report. Neither the Bull Street building, built in 1950, or the Duffy Street building, built post-1973, are considering contributing historic structures.
In March 2020, a building permit was issued to renovate the northern portion of the building for use as a bar and restaurant called “Alexander’s Bistro”, according to a recent Alcohol license application. An alcohol license for the planned restaurant was approved by the Savannah City Council on Oct. 27.
The restaurant would be the latest business to open in the building, joining White Whale Craft Ales and Neighborhood Comics.
711 and 719 East Broad St.
An application was issued in November for the renovation of the former Starfish Cafe building at 711 and 719 East Broad St. The proposed renovation comes after a rezoning request was approved in March 2019 to allow alcohol sales for a restaurant at the location, according to the meeting minutes. Union Mission sold the building to 711 & 719 East Broad Street, LLC for $575,000 in June 2019.
810 East Broad St.
An application was approved on Dec. 7 to demolish the vacant church building at 810 East Broad St. and the demolition began shortly after. The demolition comes after Faith on the Move Ministries sold the property to 621 Gwinnett LLC for $730,000 in 2018, according to the property record. The registered agent for the LLC is Bob Turner, the owner of rental properties and restaurants, including The Pirates House. Reports by WSAV and WTOC say the building dates back to the 19th century and the church, when it housed Bethel A.M.E., played a role in the Civil Rights movement. Turner is also one of the partners in Mopper Turner Investments, as mentioned in earlier in this post. No plans have yet been submitted for what will replace the church. My guess? It won’t be a new church.
Yamacraw Park
The city is planning on repairing and replacing 16 historical markers at Yamacraw Public Art Park that commemorate Native American and African-American heritage, located in the downtown Yamacraw affordable housing complex, according to a plan submitted on Dec. 3.
601 East Liberty St.
On Dec. 7 a permit was issued for the renovation of the former Catholic Diocese of Savannah building and construction of large addition with multifamily use and parking. Then on Dec. 17 a permit was issued for the demolition of the buildings parking lot, trees and sidewalk for the renovation project and construction of a new 5-story mixed-use building with associated sidewalk, parking and utility services.
The city bought the property from the Catholic Diocese in 2015 for $3.5 million with the intention of using if for city offices. That plan was later abandoned and the city sold the property in 2019 for $5.9 million after investing in some renovations to the building. A plan approved in 2019 for the site included 206 apartments, with studios, one-bedroom and two-bedroom units, according to a Savannah Morning News article I wrote in my reporting days.
If you find value in this website, please consider contributing via Paypal below to help cover the costs. You can also send contributions via Venmo @Eric-Curl and via CashApp at $ECrl77. Your support, no matter how much you give, is appreciated and will help ensure the future viability of this community resource.