From million dollar real estate deals to the renovation of a historic shotgun shack, my habit of regularly perusing building permits, sales records and meeting agendas can yield some interesting finds. This is the first of what will be a regular column highlighting some of those discoveries. Dubbed ‘Property Matters’, the column is replacing my regular ‘Morning Jog’ feature, since writing only about places I could reach during my daily run was somewhat limiting (and taking a toll on the knees). This in no way is meant to cover everything going on in terms of development in Savannah, but is a curated look at what happens to catch my attention personally. I encourage you to check out the meeting agendas I post on this website to see all the other interesting things going on throughout the city.
THE RESERVE AT SAVANNAH HARBOR
Stagnant for years and dominated by hundreds of vacant lots, development may be finally moving forward at The Reserve at Savannah Harbor on Hutchinson Island. On Sept. 29, Mopper Turner Investments purchased 149 lots located in the 18-year-old planned community for $5.2 million, according to sales records. (Look for more details about the new owner’s plan for the site in the coming weeks.) The sale comes after work recently began on another long-planned project, a mixed-use development along the Savannah River and 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. In addition, work on the Savannah Convention Center expansion is underway .
541 EAST BROUGHTON STREET
A site development plan was submitted in September for a 97-unit multifamily building with improvements to the site on Barr Street between President Street and East Broughton Street. 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.
600 EAST BROAD STREET
GM Shay Architects is seeking approval from the Historic District Board of Review to construct a new pedestrian bridge that would span the East Broad Street ramp and connect Emmet Park with the site of a planned hotel in order to improve public access and safety at the request of the City of Savannah, according to the HDBR staff report.
While staff is recommending approval, the petition was continued when it was originally presented in September due to concerns voiced by the Historic Savannah Foundation and others, according to the meeting minutes. The petition was again continued on Oct. 13, according to staff.
SAVANNAH RIVERWALK
The city recently submitted a plan to construct an extension of the Savannah Riverwalk around the Marriott Savannah Riverfront terrace to connect the west end to the eastern section of the riverwalk along the Eastern Wharf development. The plans are currently under review.
530 EAST LIBERTY STREET
Renovation work is underway on a planned art gallery and recording studio in the building that previously housed Polk’s market before it closed the location in 2011. GBU Management, LLC sold the property to Liberty Corner Management, LLC for $930,575 in 2020, according to the property record.
LOT 6 DECKER WARD TYTHING LOT (ACROSS FROM ELLIS SQUARE)
A new five story multi-use building named “The Digby” is being planned for the vacant lot across from the northwest corner of Ellis Square. The building will include street-level commercial space, basement and roof-top uses, and three floors of residential apartments.
Approval of the building’s design details was continued for up to 90 days at the Historic District Board of Review’s September meeting, according to the meeting minutes.
1807 MARTIN LUTHER KING JR. BOULEVARD
A permit was issued in late September to fully rehab this 121-year-old shotgun cottage. Planned improvements include interior and exterior repairs, new roof, all new systems, new windows, siding repair, porch restoration, and reconstruction of a rear addition. Michael Condon purchased the property from the Historic Savannah Foundation for $45,000 in November 2019, according to the property record.
1930 MONTGOMERY STREET
A permit was issued in October to remodel the interior of the building at 1930 Montgomery St. for use as a Gopuff store. Gopuff is a micro-fulfillment center that provides 30-minute delivery of cleaning supplies, over-the-counter medicines, food, drinks, electronics and more, according to the website.
1308 MARTIN LUTHER KING JR. BOULEVARD
There has not been much progress made since Dec. 2020, when the Savannah Historic Preservation Commission approved alterations and a second story addition, with conditions, to the building located at 1308 Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd, according to the meeting minutes. The building was constructed in or before 1888 and, due to immense alterations over the years, it was deemed a non-contributing resource within the National Register Victorian Historic District and the local Victorian Historic District, according to the HPC staff report.
712 WEST 39TH STREET
The Savannah-Chatham Landbank Authority recently authorized the sale of these two duplex structures to the Historic Savannah Foundation as part of a plan to rehabilitate the property for affordable housing, according to the Aug. meeting minutes.
Ryan Arvay, with HSF, explained during the meeting that the property would be purchased for $30,000 and then transferred for the same amount to Mark Gjekaj of Rentsavannah.net, who has committed to carrying out the rehabilitation of the duplexes. As a term of the transfer, HSF will place a protective preservation covenant in perpetuity on the property, as well as affordability covenants on half of the units for a period of 10 years. The project is expected to take about 10 to 12 months to complete. The structures were built in 1935, according to the property record.
11 EAST DERENNE AVENUE
Parker’s is planning to open a Starbucks at 11 E. DeRenne Avenue as part of the redevelopment of the Southside site where Savannah’s “Globe” landmark is located, according to a permit application submitted on Oct. 15. The Starbucks would replace a commercial building on DeRenne that was recently vacated by multiple businesses, including the 45-year-old California Tattoo Company. The Starbucks would join a Chick-Fil-A planned for the west side of the site at DeRenne and White Bluff Road.
The convenience store chain purchased the recently vacated commercial area for $4.7 million in July. The Metropolitan Planning Commission approved Parker’s plan in September 2020 to demolish the commercial buildings and the Globe – a 1950s-era gas storage tank, painted to resemble Earth – to make way for a convenience store, gas station and fast-food restaurant.
Following public outcry about the potential loss of the quirky landmark, Parker’s submitted a revised site plan in November 2020 that relocated the convenience store from the site of the Globe. A Parker’s spokesperson said in August the company hoped to make an announcement about plans for the site in the next few weeks, but that the company did not have any information to share at the time regarding the globe or surrounding properties.
