Savannah development news (Montgomery, Oglethorpe: insurance, construction, rooftop)

[ajc100890]

Originally Posted by Newsboy

I’m confused. So they’re gonna tear down the two 3 story buildings there now and replace them with one 2 story building with a glass atrium in the middle?

Yes. In a strange move for Ellen Harris, the planning director, she actually recommended denial because the buildings weren't compatible heights. By that she meant, they aren't tall enough. Surrounding buildings are generally three or four floors, which is what historically was in this space prior to the current federal building.

Dan Carey (CEO of Historic Savannah) wrote a good editorial calling for the GSA to go back to the drawing board.

Daniel Carey: Let

What's also fascinating is that 20 years ago there were replacement buildings planned that were much more compatible. See the link below for the 1997 approved "new" federal annex.

1997 Federal Building Annex Plans

[Airforceguy]

Nice to see some two-story retail projects being proposed for Pooler...

A two-story retail center planned for Pooler’s Godley Station community is slated to become the latest addition to the area’s Towne Center.
Members of the city’s Planning and Zoning Commission saw no problems with site and landscape plans for the new commercial structure during their review of the documents Monday, and they voted unanimously to recommend approval of the plans after less than 10 minutes of review. It’s now on to the Pooler City Council to take up the site and landscape plans for the retail center, which is proposed for a 1.5-acre site in Godley Station near the corner of Maxwell Drive and Towne Center Boulevard.

New retail center planned for Pooler | SavannahNow

[Airforceguy]

NEW MARINE SCIENCE CENTER-TYBEE ISLAND
The new Marine Science Center will feature a building just under 35 feet tall with features such as a dune habitat overlook and amphitheater.
Marine Science Center-Tybee Island by brandon walker, on Flickr

Marine Science Center-Tybee Island by brandon walker, on Flickr

Marine Science Center-Tybee Island by brandon walker, on Flickr

[Newsboy]

Originally Posted by Airforceguy

NEW MARINE SCIENCE CENTER-TYBEE ISLAND
The new Marine Science Center will feature a building just under 35 feet tall with features such as a dune habitat overlook and amphitheater.
Marine Science Center-Tybee Island by brandon walker, on Flickr

Marine Science Center-Tybee Island by brandon walker, on Flickr

Marine Science Center-Tybee Island by brandon walker, on Flickr

Where is this proposed?

[Airforceguy]

I believe this will be on the north end of the island.

[Airforceguy]

A complex series of bureaucratic maneuvers, which culminated with multiple votes at last week’s Savannah City Council meeting, has apparently paved the way for Midtown Redevelopment LLC to transform the entire block.

One of the historic buildings will be moved elsewhere on the site, and the nine existing units will be rehabbed. The developers plan about 80,000 square feet of new construction to create 105 additional housing units. The development will have 73 off-street parking spaces and take advantage of on-street parking, which at least for now is relatively plentiful.

I have mentioned Jefferson Street many times over the 17 years I’ve been writing this column. Generally, I’ve focused on the uncontrolled street crime – the blatant drug dealing and prostitution – that has welcomed criminal elements into the neighborhood and driven out so many residents.

But, as I noted routinely over the years, it was always obvious that the Jefferson Street corridor would experience a resurgence.

Even at its lowest moments, the bones of the neighborhood were strong – the street grid, the historic homes, the appropriate mix of uses and the proximity to the Historic District and key transportation routes.

So while many saw a neighborhood in decline, investors both small and large saw a neighborhood about to turn around. Yes, a few investors jumped in too early, and it’s likely that a few will jump in too late or at too high a price. The market will correct those mistakes.

I would encourage readers to take a look at Sottile & Sottile’s conceptual master plan for the block that was included with last week’s City Council agenda (http://agenda.savannahga.gov/content...04805-za_1.pdf).

City Talk: Key development along Montgomery, Jefferson moves ahead | SavannahNow

[Airforceguy]

In 2014, the previous City Council led by former Mayor Edna Jackson approved the agreement with Richard Kessler, the developer behind the $250 million Plant Riverside hotel complex being constructed on the west end of River Street, and Rockbridge Capital, which is constructing a $72 million hotel to the south of Kessler’s development.

In addition to extending the riverwalk 1,300 feet past Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard, the city committed to constructing a stairway and elevator at Montgomery Street for better pedestrian access to River Street from Bay Street.

City officials expect to use increased property tax revenue generated by the hotel projects to help pay for the estimated $14 million riverwalk extension and other improvements.

Savannah City Council set to approve funding for $14 million riverwalk extension | SavannahNow

[Newsboy]

Originally Posted by Airforceguy

Savannah City Council set to approve funding for $14 million riverwalk extension | SavannahNow

The riverwalk extension is already well under construction ... indeed it’s very obvious and was necessary, in fact, to shore up the river bank wall so the rest of the heavy construction could begin on the hotel. I think what the city council must be voting on is reimbursing the developer for construction of the extension. In that case, this would appear to be a procedural vote and not all that newsworthy.

[SavannahLife]

City Attorney Brooks Stillwell said Thursday that increased property tax revenue is expected to more than cover the $14 million cost of the riverwalk extension and other improvements.
“This will not cost the taxpayers any additional money,” Stillwell said. “The money will be produced from revenues for the project.”
In 2016, the current City Council approved a $33 million bonding agreement to construct a parking garage as part of Kessler’s hotel plan,

How long is almost $47 million dollars going to take to pay back? It would be nice to see the city provide us numbers.

[bellhead]

Originally Posted by SavannahLife

How long is almost $47 million dollars going to take to pay back? It would be nice to see the city provide us numbers.

The pols, know where their bread is buttered... That's all I have to say on this.