July 23, 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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Mixed-use building planned for vacant Montgomery Street lot
Rendering of proposed mixed-use building at 1508 Montgomery St. by Lynch Associates Architects
A 3-story, mixed-use building will be constructed on an empty lot at 1508 Montgomery St. in the Thomas Square Streetcar District as approved by the Historic Preservation Commission on June 28. The proposed building will house commercial spaces on the first floor, two residential units on the second floor and one residential unit and a roof terrace on the third floor. A 40-space parking lot is also proposed as part of the project, with half of the spaces to be used as an offsite parking location for another multifamily development located at 1825 Montgomery.
The Weldon Lodge, Elks No. 26, was formerly located at the site before being demolished about five years ago after sitting vacant for many years.
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Foram’s East Broad Street project being pulled from July 25 agenda
Foram Development requested the removal of a rezoning petition the developer was seeking to to construct a mixed-use apartment complex along East Broad Street on nine parcels between East Gwinnett and East Bolton streets. The proposed complex consists of two 5-story buildings with about 200 units on the upper floors, retail and restaurant space on the ground level and an underground parking garage, as previously reported. The petition was scheduled to be considered by the Metropolitan Planning Commission during a special called meeting on July 25. The petition was previously scheduled to be considered on July 11, but the meeting was postponed due to a lack of a quorum.
1220 Barnard St.
Ryan Williamson, the owner of FARM Bluffton, is requesting a Special Use permit at Tuesday’s MPC meeting to allow for a restaurant with accessory alcohol sales at the SCAD owned diner at 1220 Barnard St. Williamson, who is also a co-owner of Savannah’s Common Thread, is seeking the alcohol sales for a recently opened brick and mortar version of his food truck, Strange Bird, at the site.
Editor’s note: This article has been updated to correct Ryan Williamson’s association with the project.
SCAD housing project
The Savannah College of Art and Design is seeking approval of a revised General Development Master Plan for the parcel at 703 Louisville Road. The plan, which is set to go before the MPC on Tuesday, includes the demolition of a majority of a former freight depot building in order to construct a 220-unit student housing complex, as previously reported. Built by the Seaboard Railroad Company in 1929, the plan includes the preservation of building’s ‘Head House’ on the eastern end. The city is negotiating with SCAD for canal improvements to accompany the student housing development, as previously reported.
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Another neighborhood seeks hotel ban, while business organizations voice opposition
Historic Cuyler Brownville has joined the Victorian and Streetcar historic district neighborhood associations in seeking to block hotel development in their communities. The three neighborhoods are petitioning to extend a hotel-free zone within a Hotel Development Overlay District beyond downtown to cover their communities, as previously reported. The Victorian and Streetcar petition will be considered at the MPC’s special meeting Tuesday morning, while the Cuyler Brownville petition, which was submitted later, will be considered at the regular meeting that afternoon.
The Savannah Downtown Business Association, Savannah Economic Development Authority Tourism Leadership Council and the Savannah Area Chamber of Commerce submitted a joint letter opposing the petitions due to what they said was a lack of stakeholder input.
“Collaboration and inclusion should be the foundation of this petition—and it still can be with input from all stakeholders,” the letter stated. “Yet, that process which has worked so well in the Historic District, and has stood the test of time and litigation, was not followed.”
The organizations asked that the petition be denied or continued “until such time that the tested and proven process that created the existing Hotel Overlay can be implemented for this attempted amendment.”
MPC staff is Staff is recommending that consideration of the amendments be continued to allow for additional public notice and review.
Restaurant planned for 222 W. Duffy St.
Michael Condon, who owns Vintage Home Restoration, is planning on opening a new restaurant at the historic building he is renovating at 222 West Duffy St., according to the rezoning petition going before MPC on Tuesday.
The 2-story building, which is a contributing resource within the Victorian Historic District, was constructed in 1894 as a pharmacy/drug store and the first floor was historically commercial, according to the MPC. The West Duffy Cafe’ previously operated out of the space.
A menu for “Le Biscuit” with the submission packet includes biscuits, sandwiches, salads and main courses comprised of Shrimp and Grits, Steak and Eggs and soft shell crab benedict.
Condon said that the restaurant will be run by chef James Cininillo, who is also preparing to open a restaurant, Coop De Ville, at Eastern Wharf, as previously reported.
“If we get everything lined up, it will take six months to build it out,” Condon said. “I would shoot for a St. Patrick’s Day week opening.”
Staff is recommending approval of the request to rezone the property from TN-1 (Traditional Neighborhood-1) to TC-1 (Traditional Commercial-1).
Condon is also seeking a special use permit to allow for alcohol sales at the restaurant. Staff is recommending approval with the condition that the restaurant’s operation be limted to Monday through Thursday from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Both petitions will have to go before the Savannah City Council for final approval.
Editor’s note: This article was updated from its original version to include additional information about the Duffy Street restaurant provided by Michael Condon.
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