July 2, 2023 – There is a lot of development going on in Savannah. These are some of the more recent projects that caught my attention while perusing building permits and meeting agendas.
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Former Sushi Zen building renovations progressing
After a couple years as a half-demolished vacant eyesore, there is some headway being made on the building at 30 Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard that previously housed Sushi Zen. The renovations of the 3-story building are meant to accommodate a kitchen, dining area, bar and courtyard on the first floor, according to the latest site plans submitted last month. The plans also include a bar and dining area on the second floor and residential units on the third floor. White Blob LLC has owned the property since 2018, according to the property record. The building was constructed in 1883 and is a contributing structure to the downtown Historic District.
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City Market building sold
Noorfam Ventures LLC recently purchased 19 Barnard St., which currently houses a t-shirt shop, on the northeast corner of City Market for $2 million, according to sales records. The Savannah-based company is a lessor of nonresidential buildings, according to the state business registration. The building had been owned by MMH 19 BARNARD, LLC since 2019, according to the property records
The sale comes as a new owner of a majority of the City Market properties renovates the former Wild Wing Cafe just south of the building for an Irish pub. Charleston-based Green Room Partners purchased most of the City market properties for $30.5 million last March, according to sales records.
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Commission denies demo of properties near Forsyth Park
Last week, the Historic Preservation Commission denied petitions to demolish three buildings west of Forsyth Park, where the owners want to build an office complex. The anonymous vote came after the commissioners voiced concerns about the loss of buildings, which staff had argued have historic significance and are eligible for contributing status within the Victorian Historic District. The buildings include two 20th-century office buildings along Whitaker St. near Park Avenue, in addition to a 19th-century building west of the intersection along West Park Avenue that currently houses the Campbell & Son Funeral Home, as previously reported.
The property owners have not decided whether they will appeal the decision to the Savannah Zoning Board of Appeals, Greenline Architecture’s Keith Howington, who presented the petition, said via email on Friday.
You can read more about the issue in Caelen McQuilkin’s article about the proposed project in The Current. You can also read Audrey Gibbs’ interview in The Current with Chatham County Coroner David Campbell, Sr., who operates a long-running funeral home with his son out of one of the buildings.
Argentinian empanada and pastry shop coming to Liberty Street
A building permit application was recently submitted to renovate a historic building at 123 East Liberty Street for a Belen de la Cruz, a growing Georgia-based Argentinian-style empanadas and pastry shop with locations in Atlanta, Marietta and Johns Creek.
Belen De La Cruz, who is from Argentina, said on Thursday she opened her first restaurant in 2020 after being convinced by family members and students of her cooking class of an unmet demand for her baked, rather than fried, empanadas. De La Cruz said she wanted to be in the middle of Savannah and the space, which she had noticed on a previous trip about a year earlier, became available during another visit with family.
“It was meant to be,” she said.
De la Cruz said the Savannah location should be open by the end of the year, possibly as soon as October.
A hair salon previously operated out of the space, which has been owned by Click Properties LLC since December, according to property records.
45th and Bull Street apartment complex building permit application submitted
A recently submitted building permit application sheds more light on plans for a 181-unit multi-housing complex at Bull and 45th streets. The plans by Lynch Associates Architects indicate a 3-story building will be constructed partially below grade with 181 parking spaces below the residential units. The plans include the demolition of the building that housed Bull Street Estate Sales & Consignments, which has a new location at 1101 Eisenhower Drive, as previously reported.
Temporary New Hampstead public safety station
Last week, the city submitted plans for a temporary public safety station to serve the New Hampstead community in west Savannah until permanent police and fire stations can be built. The project includes two trailers for a fire station and police sub-station, according to a letter submitted by CHA Consulting. The temporary stations will be located at 3002 Highgate Boulevard. International Paper Realty transferred the property to the city in 2011, according to property records. The project is expected to be completed in the summer of 2024, according to this city presentation from June.
Chatham County submits grant application for emergency response, 911 center
Chatham County recently submitted an application for a $20 million grant to the US Department of Defense for the long planned emergency response center near the Savannah/Hilton Head International Airport. The grants are being issued under the Defense Community Infrastructure Program to assist state and local governments in addressing deficiencies in community infrastructure supportive of a military installation, as previously reported.
The county has set aside $53 million through Special Local Option Sales Tax and the capital improvement project funds, which will be used for a required $6 million match as part of the grant application. So far, the county has invested $1.1 million in architectural design and engineering fees. Since the original concept in 2016, estimated costs have grown to almost $106 million and the county is short by about $44 million for the project, according to the grant application.
County officials anticipate the grant awards to be announced by the end of September.
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