The community alliance in Forsyth Park, located in Savannah, Ga., is supporting a petition against constructing an underground parking garage west of the park.
As Mayor Van Johnson announced on June 10, the redevelopment project near Forsyth Park includes the proposed underground parking garage as a part of the plan.
Jim Hundrucker, who leads the Forsyth Park Community Alliance, mentioned there is some uncertainty regarding the potential lifting of a restriction on demolishing historic properties nearby, without plans for replacement structures.
“It’s out of character to allow the demolition permit to happen without actually a replacement or a future building, that is not normal policy,” Hundrucker said. “The Historic Preservation Commission recommended to city council not to demolish the buildings, to add it to the conservation list and the city council decided against that.”
The residents of the Forsyth area said they are also concerned about the potential of flooding, as the area is prone to flood. Hundrucker mentioned that the developers have offered houses near the construction site to be scanned.
“The developers have offered to go into people’s homes and scan them, as the baseline of what condition the house is in,” Hundrucker said. “That way when they start construction the vibration can cause the houses to shift.”
Hundrucker said the purpose of the petition is to have their voices heard and questions answered.
Community members said they hope to have a sit-down conversation with city officials, but so far, no date has been set for that conversation. They have created a petition focusing on halting the plans for the garage, safety and preservation concerns and identifying alternative solutions for parking.
