The Savannah Historic District Board of Review typically holds its meetings at 1 p.m. on the second Wednesday of the month at 112 E. State St.
The agenda for the Sept. 9 meeting is not available to view.
Go to the Metropolitan Planning Commission’s home page to register to view the meeting online.
LATEST NEWS/BRIEFS
Savannah board approves demolition of Regions Bank building on Johnson Square
The Savannah Historic District Board of Review unanimously approved the demolition of the noncontributing Regions Bank building at 15 Bull St., overlooking Johnson Square, clearing an early hurdle for a future redevelopment of the prominent downtown site. The 1958 building, which originally housed Morrison’s Cafeteria, was found by staff not to meet the criteria for contributing status. Property owner Greg Parker told the board at the Aug. 12 meeting that he is pursuing a roughly $700,000 feasibility study for a new “landmark” building and does not intend to demolish the existing structure until the replacement project is ready to move forward.
“It’s going to be a skyline building that people are going to see when they come across a bridge and when they come in I-16,” Parker said. “And it’s going to forever change the landscape of Savannah when people are taking pictures of River Street and what you see.”
The approval includes conditions to document the existing building and explore deconstruction and salvage of materials before demolition.
Savannah historic board approves controversial Queensborough bank design on Broughton Street
The Savannah Historic District Board of Review unanimously approved the final design and a special exception for a four-story Queensborough National Bank building planned at 402 E. Broughton St., at the northeast corner of Broughton and Habersham streets. The board previously approved the project’s height and mass in April, along with three other special exceptions. The latest exception allows the developer to eliminate a roof overhang along Broughton Street after Historic Savannah Foundation and the Downtown Neighborhood Association raised concerns that it made the building appear taller. The project has faced continued opposition from some residents and preservation advocates who argued the design is too large and visually incompatible with nearby historic buildings, particularly along Habersham Street. The existing one-story concrete-block building, which formerly housed Southern Motors and is considered noncontributing to the historic district, was approved for demolition in September 2025 and remains on the site pending redevelopment.
After the chairman asked architect Kevin Rose to respond to criticism of the design, Rose said:
“The dude says, ‘Man, that’s just your opinion.’ And I have an opinion, the staff has an opinion, Historic Savannah Foundation, DNA has an opinion. They all align. There’s an echo chamber that aligns as well. I disagree. So that’s my short answer. I disagree.”
The board approved the new building with conditions requiring the developer to work with staff on the parking garage gate and consider revisions to the window configuration along the Habersham Street facade near the lane.
TRANSPARENCY SCORE
Agenda availability
Days ahead of meeting (1-5): 5
Posted online: (0-1): 1
Meeting packet (0-2): 2
Meeting accessibility
Video/audio (0-1): 1
Streamed online (0-1): 1
Minutes availability
Availability online (0-2): 2
Detail (0-2): 2
Responsiveness
Email inquiries (0-2): 2
Total: 16 out of 16
Context: The Historic District Board of Review meetings are very accessible; the agenda packets are provided well ahead of the meeting and staff has always been responsive to my inquiries.