SAVANNAH, Ga. () — Savannah’s getting new architecture, but some have said that it will take away from the historic charm of the downtown area.
The new mixed-use building set to rise at the corner of East Oglethorpe and Drayton Street will span six stories and cover just over 36,000 square feet. This structure will accommodate businesses on the ground level, with either hotel or residential spaces occupying the upper stories, along with some form of rooftop area.
“One of the elements that typifies the Savannah downtown historic district is its diversity; as you stroll around, you’ll notice buildings of varied designs,” noted Jonathan Mellon, Savannah MPC Historic Preservation Director. “This mix is what endears Savannah to many, creating an architectural tapestry. We hope that the structures we’re approving today will, in 50 years, be seen as well-executed reflections of their time, contributing to Savannah’s legacy of American architecture.”
Although the project has received approval, it has sparked opposition among community members. The Historic Board of Review was inundated with over 90 emails opposing the design, with concerns it may detract from the city’s historic allure.
“A lot of people felt it was too tall and that was not an invalid concern,” Mellon said. “And it was something that we had addressed initially. And again, with the revised design that was approved yesterday, the applicant adjusted the scale of the building. They actually lowered the height of the whole building by five feet, which was quite substantial. They also took away a portion of the western portion of the building, well adjacent to the historic buildings, that would be more visually compatible. But yes, scale was the main concern of the opponents.”
The approval from the Savannah Metropolitan Planning Commission is just the first step. The next approval will be for specific construction design, like bricks and windows.
