The future of West Savannah (Alamo: for sale, apartments, crime)

[WanderingImport]

After someone posted on a thread about the Alamo Hotel in West Savannah, it got me wondering, do any of you fellow locals think that West Savannah will be a decent area in the next 10-20 years?
We've already got Sustainable Fellwood going on over there. Also, further south around the Gwinnett Street area there has been talk of building an arena there for a while. Whats everyones take on West Savannah?

[FFG3]

Originally Posted by WanderingImport

After someone posted on a thread about the Alamo Hotel in West Savannah, it got me wondering, do any of you fellow locals think that West Savannah will be a decent area in the next 10-20 years?
We've already got Sustainable Fellwood going on over there. Also, further south around the Gwinnett Street area there has been talk of building an arena there for a while. Whats everyones take on West Savannah?

As long as the projects are over there it will be difficult.

What does everyone think about Hitch Village being demolished in the next couple of months? For those that don't know, Hitch Village is the projects on the east side of downtown that has had a lot of gang activity and caused crime in the downtown area. They will be demolished by the summer.

If something like that happens to Yamacraw Village on the west side it would be a big boost for that area.

[PixelP]

Where wil the ppl. that live in those projects be relocated to?

[gamecock43]

I just moved to West Savannah in a not so great area. I have heard:
*There is a plan to improve MLK- turn it into a cute shopping road, improve all the abandoned run down storefronts. (plan was kind of put on hold with the current economy)
*That SCAD owns MANY buildings over here (one is 2 doors down from me) but has not renovated the buildings yet.
*That there is a growing enthusiasm to get rid of the westside projects and force those inhabitants to 'disperse' and mingle in with higher income citizens, to discourage the "pack" mentality that sometimes occurs when a large group of young youths are all living in small quarters.

I am new to the area and have no authority to tell it like it is. But from what I have seen- Historic Savannah is not getting any larger. Nobody has perfected the ability to make early 19th century buildings. Historic properties are gaining in value, and therefore:
*lower income people who own these properties, have had the home in their family for generations. Once their house value reaches a certain level, then I would assume they will sell and leave. A house down the street from me is an example of this. The owner died and the family would like to keep the home in their family but cant afford to. They must put the house on the market. Also down the street from me, a new owner inherited a run down property and immediately put it up for sale (for an unrealistically high amount...but hey it increases my property value if hes successful!) because this is his payday. This is his shot to make more money in one day than maybe his whole life....and in consequence, when a property reaches a great enough value to convince current resident to sell, generally only professional people can afford that property.

In addition- the historic district/Ardsley park is reaching a level that (to me) might be financially a little out of reach for young couples/new homeowners and they are being priced into the fringes (like me!).

Sometimes young people have enough energy (or not enough sense) to move to high-ish crime areas and then others come because the pioneers cleared the way. I chose my house because the people next door were a young professional couple and I figured if they were safe, so was I.

AND!! So far I have been safe! No breakins, no car thefts, no robbery or burglery. I hear the gunshots in the neighborhood, but like everyone says, if your not involved in crime- crime doesnt seem to target you. But of course I am on alert 24/7.

[ellie]

I think the Hudson Hill neighborhood, which is west of the Alamo has a strong sense of identity and an active neighborhood association. Seems like the people who live there are proud of where they live. Same goes for people who live in Cloverdale and Liberty City.

I agree that West Bay St. is a raggedly looking mess, but it's better than it was a number of years ago and may gradually improve. The stormwater parks that replaced the homes that constantly flooded have improved the congested look of the area, but I'm not sure if the quality of life has otherwise improved.

[gaflsc]

Originally Posted by WanderingImport

After someone posted on a thread about the Alamo Hotel in West Savannah, it got me wondering, do any of you fellow locals think that West Savannah will be a decent area in the next 10-20 years?
We've already got Sustainable Fellwood going on over there. Also, further south around the Gwinnett Street area there has been talk of building an arena there for a while. Whats everyones take on West Savannah?

An arena would be a big growth generator for the Gwinett corridor. As for W. Bay, I don't see a bright future, even with Fellwood v2.0 going in. It's a heavily traveled industrial road.

As for Hitch Village, I always found it strange that projects were built right up against high end historic properties. I wouldn't be surprised if that land is redevleoped into something more consistant with the area & the upcoming Savannah River Landing. On that note, it may make sense to do that same thing to Yamacraw Village.

[Padgett2]

I think that both sides of West Bay will become more and more small industrial/business oriented. I can't see that except for areas like the Hudson Hill area, that it will become more up-scale or residential.

When Yamacraw Village was erected, the historic area was not like it is now. It had a lot of tenement type apartments in those lovely mansions. Yes, you could even say that the downtown area was more or less a slum. There were was a triving red light district on the west end of River Street. Another similar area was on Mongomery St. These places were well known. The only reason anyone went downtown was because there were no shopping malls around. Broughton Street was the only place to shop for clothes, shoes, pay bills and bank. It's almost unbelievable what has been done there. The squares that didn't have monuments, had fire lanes cut though the centers. It was, as Lady Astor said, "a beautiful woman with a dirty face."

West Bay continues to need cleaning up. Perhaps if it were to get less congested, it would be more appealing.

The Historic District that draws in the tourists is a fairly recent (in the historic sense) development. MLK Blvd is beginning to look better. Time will tell if this is going to continue. I believe that we are at a point where something other than the Tourist Industry is going to have to be developed.

But I can't see anything good like that happening on the west side. The Port, which is expanding, the Paper Company, and other long time large businesses just don't make good neighbors.

[gaflsc]

Originally Posted by Padgett2

West Bay continues to need cleaning up. Perhaps if it were to get less congested, it would be more appealing.


But I can't see anything good like that happening on the west side. The Port, which is expanding, the Paper Company, and other long time large businesses just don't make good neighbors.

I'm of the opinion that one way to clean up W. Bay would be to make it less industrial/trucking-centered than it is now. One way would be to ban big rigs on Bay between President St. & 516. Make trucks use Truman-Derenne-516 to go around this area. If our leaders would have completed the long overdue east-west expressway, this would be a non-issue.

Yes, riverside industry doesn't make for good neighbors. I personally can't envision International Paper being around in 10 years...but that site would make for a great refinery!

[WanderingImport]

There has also been talk in the not too distant past about West Bay Street being widened to 6 lanes. I personally couldn't see where they would have enough room to widen, but I suppose where there is a will, theres a way.

As far as truck traffic on Bay Street, I always wished they would build a second bridge extending Truman across the river to Hutchinson and South Carolina. It'd divert truck traffic away from downtown and around possibly connecting with US 17 or I-95. The only drawback from this is FUNDING. It would be extremely expensive but another suspension bridge would be beautiful.

[gaflsc]

Originally Posted by WanderingImport

There has also been talk in the not too distant past about West Bay Street being widened to 6 lanes. I personally couldn't see where they would have enough room to widen, but I suppose where there is a will, theres a way.

As far as truck traffic on Bay Street, I always wished they would build a second bridge extending Truman across the river to Hutchinson and South Carolina. It'd divert truck traffic away from downtown and around possibly connecting with US 17 or I-95. The only drawback from this is FUNDING. It would be extremely expensive but another suspension bridge would be beautiful.

A new bridge would be neat, but cost prohibitive. IMO, a better solutiuon would be to build an east-west expressway linking Truman to 516 down the Henry-Anderson corridor. Many structures here are quite old & decrepit, and to me it seems to be a logical path to take.

Now I've also long believed that I-16 should have been extended over the Talmadge into SC, and meet up with I-95 somewhere above SC exit 8. This would allow a smoother transition for traffic, reduce congestion at the current 16-95 interchange, upgrade Hwy 17 in SC & also reduce traffic loads on Hwy 278 in SC. If that came to pass, a new bridge may make sense, giving Savannah a "half loop" around the city once Truman meets up with Abercorn.