July 30, 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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127 E. Gordon St. restoration returning for consideration
The planned restoration of the historic mansion at 127 E. Gordon St. will be returning to the Historic District Board of Review for consideration again on Aug. 9. The board postponed their vote on the proposal when it was first presented in June due to concerns about an aspect of the plan that includes the demolition of a newer addition on the mansion’s west side.
The main structure at 127 East Gordon Street was constructed 1856, while a 3-story wood porch that was added sometime between 1898 and 1916, according to the petitioner’s report. That porch was then bricked in to become a 3-story masonry addition between 1937 and 1954, which is the structure proposed for demolition.
The petitioners, Erik Puljong with Hansen Architects, and consultant Ellen Harris with Ethos Preservation, contend that while it was built in the period of significance the addition is not historically significant since it does not meet all the other requirements to be considered a “contributing” historic structure.
The addition is not associated with an important event or person, it does not embody distinctive characteristics or have high artist value, and it is unlikely to yield additional information important to history or prehistory, Harris said.
The condition of the structure, which has a 3-inch gap between it and the original portion of the house due to inadequate foundation footings, would make preservation difficult as well, according to the petitioners.
The footings were appropriate for the original porch. but not the masonry building that was added later, Harris said.
“They are undersized and have sunk into the ground and pushing it away,” Harris said. “You can’t push it back.”
Puljong added that much of the addition’s materials would have to be replaced to successfully restore the structure.
The building previously housed apartments and the The Book Gift Store on the ground level, which sold Midnight and the Garden of Good and Evil merchandise until closing in 2012. The new owners are planning on using it as their primary residence, Puljong said.
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Strange Bird restaurant plan for SCAD diner approved
The Metropolitan Planning Commission recommended approval of the special use permit for a restaurant with accessory alcohol sales at the SCAD owned diner at 1220 Barnard St. Ryan Williamson, the co-owner of FARM Bluffton and Savannah’s Common Thread, is seeking the alcohol sales for a recently opened brick and mortar version of their Strange Bird food truck at the site. The special use will next have to be approved by the Savannah City Council.
SCAD housing project plan rejected
The Metropolitan Planning Commission voted 6-5 last week to deny Savannah College of Art and Design’s General Development Master Plan for a site at 703 Louisville Road along the Springfield Canal.
The plan includes the demolition of a majority of the former Seaboard railroad freight depot building in order to construct a 220-unit student housing complex that SCAD officials said could accommodate up to 800 students, as previously reported.
The vote at the July 25 to deny the plan came after some board members raised concerns about increased traffic, pedestrian safety, impacts to surrounding neighborhoods, SCAD’s tax exempt status and a lack of public access along the Springfield Canal.
The denial came despite the claim by SCAD officials and Attorney Joshua Yellin that the plan would be an improvement over a developer’s private plan to construct a 300-unit multifamily complex at the site, which was approved in 2020 and could be built following that previous approval. There would be less car traffic, since only about 20 percent of the students bring cars and SCAD’s bus system would be transporting the remainder, the petitioners said.
The university’s representatives and City Manager Jay Melder, a member of the MPC board, said that a public walkway was not part of the original developer’s plans for the site, as some board members contended. Rather, the city access had been included for canal maintenance, garbage pickup and emergency responders, they said.
The planned canal walkway will be on city property on the south side of the canal and is still being planned, Melder said. (As an interesting footnote, Melder quashed the idea that boats and kayaks would traverse the canal leading up to the now built Enmarket Arena as shown in past renderings, stating such recreational activity would not be part of the city’s stormwater drainage system.)
Built by the Seaboard Railroad Company in 1929, the building’s ‘Head House’ on the eastern end would be preserved in its existing location under SCAD’s plan. The city is also negotiating with SCAD for canal improvements to accompany the student housing development, as previously reported.
The Historic Savannah Foundation offered support for the project, despite participating in a “heart bombing” event of in 2019 to raise awareness about a previous developer’s plans to demolish the structure. While the organization would prefer the entire building be preserved, the organization supported the project due to the university’s plans to restore the Head House in its existing location, said Ryan Jarles, HSF’s director of preservation and historic properties.
The property is still owned by a private entity, 703 Louisville Road LLC, according to property records, and the building was condemned by the city earlier this year due to the condition after finding it to be unfit for human habitation, improperly secured, covered in graffiti and surrounded by litter. Representatives with 703 Louisville previously declined to comment on the current or prior plans for the site.
MPC Chairman Dwayne Stephens joined board members Karen Jarrett, Joseph Ervin, Elizabeth Epstein, Laureen Boles and Traci Amick in opposing the plan, while Melder, Joseph Welch, Tom Woiwode, Jeff Notrica and Wayne Noah voted to support staff’s recommendation to approve the project.
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MPC postpones consideration of neighborhood hotel ban
The MPC voted to postponed consideration of three historic neighborhoods’ petitions aimed at blocking hotel development within their community to allow for additional public notice and review.
The Cuyler Brownville, Victorian and Streetcar historic district neighborhood associations are seeking to extend a hotel-free zone within a Hotel Development Overlay District beyond downtown to cover their communities, as previously reported.
While many members voiced support for the proposal, they voted to continue it following objections from Savannah Downtown Business Association, Savannah Economic Development Authority Tourism Leadership Council and the Savannah Area Chamber of Commerce. Those organizations had submitted a joint letter opposing the petitions due to what they said was a lack of stakeholder input.
Restaurant planned for 222 W. Duffy St.
The MPC endorsed the rezoning petition of Vintage Hoe Restoration owner Michael Condon, who is planning on opening a new restaurant at the historic building he is renovating at 222 West Duffy St.
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.
The MPC also recommend approval of a special use permit to allow for alcohol sales at the restaurant, with the condition that the restaurant’s operation be limited 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.
Housing on city’s MLK lot gets initial design OK
The Historic Preservation Commission approved the height and mass of Gunn Meyerhoff Shay Architects’ proposed 3-story, 16-unit apartment building on city owned property at 916 Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard. The project’s design details will next have to be approved by the HPC to move forward.
The apartment complex is the latest plan for the site following the demolition in 2014 of the 1960s-era building that once housed the city’s first-black owned pharmacy.
The project will provide high quality 2-bedroom apartments affordable to small families and/or couples who have been displaced, or who are at risk of being displaced, due to the high cost of rental housing in the neighborhood and Savannah, according to the project narrative.
“Affordable” in this case means the rates will be in line with Fair Market Rents set by HUD, which are generally lower than the market rates currently being charged in the area. The apartments, which will range in size from about 775 to 925 square feet , are are expected to rent for no more $1,256 a month, according to the architect.
“This is not transitional housing—although planners hope that by having a stable, affordable, place to live with supportive services that some residents will use this as a springboard to larger market rate apartments and/or home purchases,” the architect’s petition states.
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