Savannah council to vote on public parking partnership proposed for Forsyth Park
Development plans for the site of a few mid-century buildings on Forsyth Park, which sparked debate during a Savannah City Council meeting that green-lit their demolition, may move forward next Thursday.
The City of Savannah will vote on a development agreement with Forsyth Commons Holdings LLC to partner for a two-level, 450-space parking garage below ground of the to-be-demolished properties, according to next week's meeting agenda. The city would issue bonds through the Savannah Economic Development Authority (SEDA) to fund the parking project. A copy of the agreement is not yet attached to the agenda item.
Above ground, the developer has plans for an office complex for a few Savannah business titans. HunterMaclean, Sterling Seacrest Pritchard, Evans General Contractors and Dulany Industries are set to be tenants in the space, according to Jeff Jepson, executive vice president of Evans General Contractors, which is leading the project.
"There are a number of things of what we believe are going to be community benefits, the first of which is providing parking near one of (the city's) biggest and largest green spaces," Jepson said.
Forsyth Commons Holdings registered as a business in May 2023 with the registered agent listed as Thomas Cullen, a partner at HunterMaclean. Leaders from HunterMaclean, Sterling Seacrest Pritchard, and Dulany Industries are expected to be principals of Forsyth Commons Holdings.
Council's decision to keep the three mid-century properties — 1001 Whitaker St., 1015 Whitaker St., and 124 West Park Ave.— off of the Victorian District Contributing Resources Map drew criticism after the vote in September.
Mayor Van Johnson's reelection campaign received donations from David Paddison, president of Sterling Seacrest Pritchard. Johnson also received donations from Dulany Industries, HunterMaclean Georgia PAC, and Jepson.
Throughout the campaign, Johnson defended his voting record, stating that each decision he makes is based on the benefit to the city.
Jepson said it's important to note the developers are paying a full share of taxes on the property and are not receiving any business incentives from the city in the partnership.
An approved development agreement would allow Evans Contractors to begin engaging the architectural team consisting of Greenline Architecture and The Nelson Group, Jepson said. From there the developers can engage neighborhoods and businesses on designs appropriate for the area.
The Victorian Neighborhood Association supported council's decision in September to leave the currents buildings off the contributing resources list.
The Historic Preservation Commission considered demolition applications on the existing properties in June 2023, and made the recommendation to city council in July to add the properties to the contributing resources list.
City council voted on the contributing resources item in September 2023 which ended in a 7-2 decision to leave the buildings off the list. The no votes came from former Alderwoman Kesha Gibson-Carter and Post 2 At-Large Alderwoman Alicia Miller Blakely.
City council's next meeting will be at 2 p.m. on March 28.
This article originally appeared on Savannah Morning News: Savannah council set to vote on Forsyth Park parking garage project
