By Eric Curl
Sept. 8, 2024 – There’s a lot happening this week, with some of the usual suspects. A couple of hotels are being proposed for downtown, one near a historic Jewish cemetery that is drawing opposition from folks worried about the structure’s impact on the site. First, the proposed 5-story hotel next to the Savannah Station event venue would have to get a height map amendment and a zoning amendment approved by the Savannah City Council. The other hotel going before the Historic District Board of Review would replace the old dry cleaning business site on East Bay and Habersham streets, where a new 4-story building would be built next to renovated historic structures that would be incorporated into the hotel, as previously reported.
Meanwhile, in housing news, a former hotel on the southside may be converted into an apartment building with single-room efficiency units. The property near Abercorn’s intersection with Interstate 95 exit was developed about 20 years ago as a Best Western and would include 120 units, if the conversion is approved by the Metropolitan Planning Commision.
And the city is looking to join forces with SEDA, Chatham County other neighboring counties for a housing study and needs assessment. The almost $201,000 intergovernmental contract with Georgia Tech Research Corporation will be covered by a $101,000 state grant, as well as $20,000 from Savannah and each of the participating counties, according to the agreement.
There is also a new plan going before the Metropolitan Planning Commision to develop a mixed-use apartment complex and parking garage along East Broad and Gwinnett streets. The new plan proposed by property owner Bob turner will need a height variance to allow for a 4-story building. The project’s architect, J. Elder Studio, is behind the East Side Theater renovation and apartment complex across the street.
Lastly, Tybee Island is looking to create a national historic designation on the city’s north end to ensure the properties surrounding Fort Screven are protected. On Thursday, the Tybee Island will consider an agreement with the Georgia Department of Community Affairs, which awarded the cit grant funding for the project.
You can see who is meeting and what else is on the agenda in the latest week ahead.
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The Chatham County Board of Elections is meeting at 3:30 p.m. on Monday.
The agenda is not available to view.
The SEDA board of directors is meeting at 9 a.m. on Tuesday.
The agenda is now available to view.
The Housing Authority of Savannah is meeting at 10:45 a.m. Wednesday.
The agenda for the Sept. 11 meeting is now available to view.
The Chatham County-Savannah Metropolitan Planning Commission is meeting at 1:30 p.m. on Tuesday.
The agenda is now available to view. The meetings can be accessed remotely by registering via the MPC’s homepage.
The Savannah Historic District Board of Review is meeting at 1 p.m. on Wednesday.
The agenda is now available to view. Go to the Metropolitan Planning Commission’s home page to register to view the meeting online.
The Savannah Historic District Board of Review is meeting at 1 p.m. on Wednesday.
The agenda is now available to view. Go to the Metropolitan Planning Commission’s home page to register to view the meeting online.
The Savannah City Council is meeting at 2 p.m. on Thursday.
The agenda is now available to view. A workshop will be held at 11 a.m. before the meeting. Due to an ongoing restoration project in City Hall, and a new phase of restoration focused on Council Chambers, all City Council meetings will relocate to the Board of Education’s Whitney Administrative Complex beginning Thursday, Sept. 12. Remote viewing options include SGTV Comcast Channel 8, the city of Savannah YouTube page and the city of Savannah Facebook page.
The Tybee Island City Council is meeting at 6:30 p.m. on Thursday.
The agenda is now available to view. Meetings can be watched live and later on Tybee’s video page.
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