By Eric Curl/Opinion
March 30, 2025 – Greg Parker and his partners recently began renovating what he described as one of the “ugliest” buildings in Savannah, as evident by the start of painting the bricks white and installation of copper cornices.
Parker is actually making alterations to two brick-encased block buildings at 33 Bull St. so that they are something to “be proud of,” as he described his intent when the project was unanimously approved by the Historic District Board of Review last May.
The planned makeover includes architectural enhancements such as archways and columns under the cracking brick overhangs, handcrafted copper cornices, raised storefront “expressions” and awnings on Broughton and new restaurant space on the corner facing Johnson Square. In addition, the building’s bricks are being painted an oyster white, one aspect of the project that has been drawing some criticism on social media now that the painting has begun.
As to the description as “ugliest” building, many Savannah residents had their own ideas for some local buildings that should beat out those structures for such a title. This column, based on reader suggestions, is dedicated to some of Savannah’s let’s say less attractive structures. In the spirt of Parker’s project, the general vibe seems to be that these buildings could use a makeover, if not a wrecking ball. This feature will be updated occasionally with additional contenders, so you can email me your own suggestions at eric.curl@savannahagenda.com.
AT&T Communications Building at 1300 Bull St.
Taking up more than half the block at Henry between Bull and Drayton streets, this windowless beast of a building has all the aesthetic charm of a high-security prison. Not sure what is going on in there, but it looks like something you could base a Severance spinoff of. (There is some explanations from some folks who claim to be former AT&T employees about why these “switching centers” had no windows here.)
Parking Garage at 20 Lincoln St.
The private parking garages at 20 Lincoln St., which dates back to 1955, was built before the city decided parking garages don’t have to look an abandoned building project that developed a crack habit. Interestingly, the parking garage was sold to another parking garage company, based in Chicago, for $16 million in 2022. So… aesthetics apparently don’t really mean much when it comes to that particular industry.
Parking Garage at 115 E. Congress St.
Not to be outdone, another parking garage at 115 E. Congress St. got a couple of votes for the ugly crown. Built in 1974, the garage is owned by the same Chicago-based company, Interpark LLC, which purchased the structure for $35 million in 2022.
Chatham County Courthouse at 133 Montgomery St.
Constructed in 1978, the Chatham County courthouse at 133 Montgomery St. is guilty of exposing itself in public, according to some residents. The county is now in the process of completing a new courthouse next to it to provide additional courthouse space at Oglethorpe and Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard, which appears to be nearing completion after being stalled by delays and cost increases since the project began in 2020. (In February, county commissioners approved a $108,621 emergency procurement for completion of a millwork package, one of the smaller projects identified for the courthouse to function as needed, according to officials.) The new structure is replacing an old concrete block jail building that didn’t garner much sympathy when it was demolished.
Hyatt Regency at 2 West Bay St.
The Hyatt Regency at 2 West Bay St. is the hotel Savannah loves to hate. The blocky structure that was somehow allowed to mount River Street, resulting in a tunnel of darkness bisecting the otherwise lovely cobblestone lined stretch of road. It looks like the AT&T building after the architect realized windows were an option.
SCAD dormitory at 640 Indian St.
Since surprising Savannahians like a concrete Pop Tart, SCAD’s recently constructed 17-floor student housing tower got more than a few mentions as a viable candidate for the ugly list. Aside from its actual design, a lot of folks find fault with ithe structure altering Savannah’s skyline forever. – especially since there is no escaping the site of it and the four letter word that comes to mind everytime one takes the Talmadege in or out of town.
Juliette Gordon Low Federal building
Due to its tile-covered facade, the Juliette Gordon Low Federal Building at 100 W. Oglethorpe Avenue has been nicknamed the “bathroom building” by critics since it was flushed out onto Savannah’s streets in the mid-80s.
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I’ve always referred to the JGL federal building as the ‘shower stalls”. Completely out of place in the historic district.
Agree on all, but especially the SCAD atrocity. They even built another in Atlanta!