By Eric Curl
Feb. 16, 2025 – A proposed office development next to Forsyth Park will once again be up for consideration by the local zoning board, as two residents are petitioning in court to stop the project that they say is unlawful and will have a detrimental impact on the historic neighborhood.
On Tuesday, the Chatham County-Savannah Metropolitan Planning Commission (MPC) will consider Forsyth Commons Holding’s general development plan and variances to construct three buildings at Whitaker and Park that exceed the zoning district height restrictions limiting building heights to 3 stories and 45-feet.
To accommodate the plan, the Savannah City Council recently approved amendments to the Future Land Use Map to classify the area as “Traditional Commercial,” and the zoning map was updated to “Traditional Commercial-2” (TC-2). Those zoning map changes are now being challenged by two Savannah residents who recently filed a petition in Chatham County Superior Court on Feb. 7, alleging property rights violations conflicts of interest, undisclosed campaign contributions and improper “spot zoning.”
The subject parcels contain two midcentury office buildings and a funeral home, as previously reported. None of the structures were designated as contributing to the character of the Victorian Historic Overlay District at the time of its formation and in 2023 the Savannah City Council voted against their designation being recommended by the Historic Savannah Foundation after the demolitions were first proposed. Their demolition is now expected to move forward, contingent on approval of the new office buildings.
On March 28, 2024, the Savannah City Council approved a development agreement with the developer and the Savannah Economic Development Authority (SEDA) to support the project that includes the construction of office buildings, an underground parking garage available for public use, and public restrooms at Forsyth Park.
MPC staff is recommending denying the requested variances on Tuesday but is suggesting an alternative approval with specific height and story limits. The developer is seeking to build one building with 5 stories and a height of 71 feet; two other buildings are proposed to have 4 stories with a height of 57 feet. Instead, staff’s alternative recommendation proposes that the 5 stoy building’s height me limited to 63 feet, while the two others be restricted to 4 stories and 51 one feet, and 3 stories and 45 feet.
This is a developing story that will be updated as more information becomes available.
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How is it that the horrible Brutalist building high rise on Liberty got a pass instead of being demolished, yet a mid-century brick one story building that formerly housed a school and then the insurance company owned by a local whose father was a scion in the community and very involved in public service is slated for demolition, after which an obscene commercial building that destroys any semblance of community will be built?