ABOUT
DOWNTOWN
As
with many urban centers, Savannah’s downtown experienced
a decline in the mid-1900s as businesses and residents
moved out of the central core. In response, city fathers,
community leaders, preservation advocates, downtown merchants,
property owners and residents joined to breathe new life
into the city’s historic downtown area. They painstakingly
restored homes, squares, and commercial buildings preserving
Savannah’s rich built environment. Through partnerships
with the City of Savannah, they participated in numerous
programs and studies to address quality of life issues,
downtown revitalization, corridor and neighborhood revitalization,
and infrastructure improvements, thereby strengthening
the ability of downtown to survive in the changing economy.
 In
the mid-1980s the city of Savannah set the pace for revitalization
of its declining central commercial core with the establishment
of the Broughton Street Urban Redevelopment Area. Since that
time appraised property values in the 12-block redevelopment
area have increased from $38 million to more than $140 million.
Today, this redevelopment area boasts upper-story loft living,
numerous fine retail, dining, fine arts, and lodging establishments,
three theatres and a state of the art library for students
of the Savannah College of Art and Design. Over the past few
years, national retail stores have joined the many local entrepreneurs,
strengthening the vitality of the commercial district. This
successful revitalization effort has sparked a renaissance
along Martin Luther King, Jr. Boulevard and Montgomery Street.
Positioned at the western gateway into Savannah, the Corridor
is set to undergo a $16 million face-lift over the next few
years with implementation of a comprehensive streetscape plan
and Battlefield Heritage Park development. This area has grown
tremendously over the past three years with more than $83
million in private investment for acquisitions and improvements,
setting the stage for a vibrant renaissance.
|
