Study: Savannah’s Historic District in ‘imminent danger’

[eliza61nyc]

Originally Posted by Mutiny77

Are you proposing that vacant lots remain vacant? Surely you're not arguing against new construction altogether.

No, not at all.
What is going on in my city now is what we call urban landscaping. as others pointed out vacant lots usually have a lot of issues, size, ownership, location.

We've used some of those lots for beer gardens, community gardens, dog parks and mini squares. Now I can't make a suggestion on feasibility because I am not a resident.

and no I do not think any city is in a "bubble" but I do know tearing down some thing just to put up ugly garbage usually ends up being new uglier vacant buildings. been there (in philly) done that.

[Mutiny77]

Originally Posted by eliza61nyc

and no I do not think any city is in a "bubble" but I do know tearing down some thing just to put up ugly garbage usually ends up being new uglier vacant buildings. been there (in philly) done that.

That's typically not the case in Savannah. The historic district is the city's bread and butter so the architectural standards for new buildings tend to be pretty strict. Infill is done well in Savannah for the most part.

[Airforceguy]

Now the Feds are saying the Historic District is not in danger...
Feds: Savannah's Historic District not in danger - News - Savannah Morning News - Savannah, GA

[TheDarkKnight]

Someone must have called in Mike Pence.

[WanderingImport]

Originally Posted by Airforceguy

Now the Feds are saying the Historic District is not in danger...
Feds: Savannah's Historic District not in danger - News - Savannah Morning News - Savannah, GA

This makes much more sense.

[Newsboy]

City Manager Rob Hernandez’s angry OP-ED in Saturday’s paper is a must read:

Savannah City Manager column: Historic District assessment an insult - Opinion - Savannah Morning News - Savannah, GA

[CoastalGAGuy]

Originally Posted by Newsboy

City Manager Rob Hernandez’s angry OP-ED in Saturday’s paper is a must read:

Savannah City Manager column: Historic District assessment an insult - Opinion - Savannah Morning News - Savannah, GA

Dude's easily offended by a report's headline, apparently. That's a shame. His skin-deep assessment of the report and his ironic judgment of its shallow nature is cause for alarm.

In 1966, it was blight and neglect that the city faced as old buildings decayed and tenements were ignored. But, through the 1970s, 1980s and 1990s, city visionaries saved her, much to our delight and enjoyment today.

Now, it's 2018, and we face an even more insidious and fast threat in the name of development. As new buildings replace old parking lots, designed to look like bland but barely believable replicas of older architecture (see: Perry Lane Hotel)... As remodeled storefronts advertising international brands are on the rise... As local residents of the historic parts of town are fewer and less able to afford gentrifying areas... As job opportunities for non-college educated locals are mostly hospitality jobs shouldering some burden of retelling falsehoods and tall tales to turn a scant buck... Even if Mr. Hernadez doesn't see it, the nature of our Landmark Urban Historic District is at risk.

This newcomer turned City Manager is charged with running our fair city right here and now. And as such, he sees no harm in this rapid descent into an urban homogenization and facadism. To this long-time city resident, this trend is only slightly less appalling than if the city were to simply kowtow to the faux storefronts of Disney World's Main Street.

As we are overrun with the never ceasing trolleys of gawking tourists, lest we forget that this still is a real city with actual residents. Of course, those residents are increasingly newcomers themselves - true believers in the myth of Savannah, and stakeholders of little real local character.

The problem with trends like that is that they're hard to stop once they get going, and even though Savannah's Landmark Urban Historic District is the biggest one in the country, it's still a very small place. My fear is that at this rate, Savannah will eventually become just a shadow of herself - a portrait of a beautiful lady long ago trampled into oblivion.