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REDEDICATION CEREMONY FOR ROCKWELL PARK
On Friday, May 2, 2008 at 11:00AM the Savannah Development & Renewal Authority (SDRA) joined the City of Savannah and community partners to host a rededication ceremony for Rockwell Park. The ceremony marked the completion of the new passive park, which is located at the intersection Martin Luther King, Jr. Boulevard and Victory Drive. Improvements to the park include the installation of new sidewalks, handicapped accessible curb cuts, park benches, streetlights, trees, and landscaping.
COMMUNITY CLEANUP FOR THE MLK/MONTGOMERY REDEVELOPMENT AREA
On Saturday, May 3, 2008 at 10:00AM the Savannah Development & Renewal Authority joined over  fifty volunteers to clean the Martin Luther King, Jr. Blvd (MLK)/ Montgomery Street Redevelopment Area, which is bound by MLK Jr. Blvd, Montgomery Street, Jones Street, and Victory Drive. This event was hosted in conjunction with The City of Savannah, The Bureau of Public Development, Keep Savannah Beautiful (KSB), and the Martin Luther King, Jr. Boulevard/ Montgomery Street Business Association (MMBA). Representatives from the City of Savannah, the Metropolitan Neighborhood Association, Keep Savannah Beautiful, the Martin Luther King, Jr. Boulevard/ Montgomery Street Business Association (MMBA), the Historic Savannah Foundation, the Savannah Development & Renewal Authority, the Downtown Business Association, the Tourism & Leadership Council, Savannah State University, the Savannah College of Art & Design and other community partners  participated in these exciting activities. 
BROUGHTON STREETSCAPE IMPROVEMENT PLAN RECEIVES $500,000 IN TE FUNDS FROM GEORGIA DOT
The City of Savannah, in partnership with SDRA, successfully competed for a grant of $500,000 in Transportation Enhancement (TE) program funds for the implementation of the Broughton Streetscape Improvement Plan. The TE program’s goal is to enrich the transportation experience of Georgians through specific types of enhancement projects.
Since the summer in 2007, consulting firm WK Dickson has been working on the design of the Broughton Streetscape Improvement Plan for the 12-block corridor. The proposed improvements are intended to enhance the pedestrian experience while improving vehicular safety and providing traffic calming measures. The plan will call for the installation of new sidewalks featuring ADA compliant curb cuts and crosswalks, the planting of new trees, the enhancement of traffic signals and street lights and the placement of trash receptacles, bicycle racks and information kiosks.
 
It is anticipated that the design and adoption of the plan is to be completed by mid-2008. This will be followed by the identification of additional funding needing with construction commencing in late 2008.
REVIEW OF DOWNTOWN MASTER PLAN
Over the last year, SDRA, in partnership with the City of Savannah and the Metropolitan Planning Commission have engaged in an extensive public process to develop the Downtown Savannah Master Plan. Through public meetings, workshops, presentations, online surveys and one-on-one meetings, the public process engaged hundreds of residents, business leaders and representatives from civic and neighborhood groups.
The public process has resulted in the following vision for downtown Savannah: "The hub of economic vibrancy for the region, Greater Downtown Savannah maintains its historic and culturally diverse identity while preserving the Oglethorpe Plan, embracing future growth and providing an unparalleled quality of life." 
A set of guiding principles emerged that set the priorities for the Master Plan and the future of downtown.  These principles include:
  • Diversify economic opportunity
  • Create vibrant, affordable neighborhoods
  • Ensure a strong quality of life
  • Maximize mobility options
  • Retain fundamental elements of the Oglethorpe Plan
 Grounded in the community-defined vision and guiding principles, the strategies and recommendations included in the Master Plan are intended to guide future development of downtown and aim to diversify economic opportunity, create vibrant, affordable neighborhoods, ensure a strong quality of life, maximize mobility options and retain fundamental elements of the Oglethorpe Plan. Furthermore, in response to public concern regarding the impact of large-scale development on the character of downtown, the scope of the Master Plan was expanded to allow for further research and analysis into this specific topic. This process resulted in the identification of design principles intended to ensure quality design of large-scale buildings and land use regulations intended to reduce the conflict between incompatible uses while encouraging the development of needed uses downtown. The design principles and land use regulations strive to achieve the economic objectives of the Master Plan while not compromising the integrity of the built environment in downtown Savannah.
 
The draft document has been thoroughly reviewed by the steering committee, a supplemental review team, and technical staff from the City and MPC.  It is anticipated that the final document will be presented to the public in the second or third quarter of 2008 followed by its submission to City Council and MPC.
Thank you for your interest in this important process.  If you have any questions regarding the Downtown Master Plan or the process, please contact the SDRA office at 912-651-6973 or by email to savannah_dt@sdra.net. 
WIRELESS INTERNET COMING TO MLK CORRIDOR
On Monday, January 28, 2008 the City of Savannah and the Savannah Development and Renewal Authority (SDRA) held a press conference to announce details of an innovative project that will extend affordable Internet access to disadvantaged neighborhoods along the Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard corridor.
 
The wireless Internet project is a partnership involving the City, SDRA, the Housing Authority of Savannah, the Creative Coast, Savannah Technical College and the Equal Opportunity Authority. The partnership will install wireless infrastructure along the MLK Corridor from Bay Street to Gwinnett, then create a public-private partnership with an Internet Service Provider (ISP) to give free-, reduced-rate, and market-rate Internet access to residents, businesses and institutions along the corridor.

In January of 2008 the Georgia Technology Authority (GTA) awarded the City of Savannah a $600,000 grant to help construct the infrastructure and programming for the MLK Wireless Project.

This new model of municipal WIFI is unique in the United States, and puts Savannah at the forefront of technology services to local populations. It is the partnership's belief that affordable, reliable Internet access will soon be as important as access to schools and libraries. The network will also enhance government services that rely on wireless technology, such as surveillance cameras, police mobile data terminals, and inspections operations.
 
 
 
 
 
 
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