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Savannah Unveils New Development Plan for Canal District

Visual representation of the proposed Canal District in Savannah with parks and paths.

News Summary

The Savannah City Council has revealed an updated development plan for the Canal District near the new arena, targeting a vibrant 55-acre park with lakes and walking paths. Expected costs are $41.5 million, with infrastructure improvements to enhance connectivity. Road enhancements will support pedestrian and cyclist access, integrating the arena within the local community. Proposed developments on city-owned property may lead to increased property values and additional tax revenue. The project aims for completion in the next 15 to 20 years, transforming the area significantly.

Savannah – The Savannah City Council has received an updated development plan for the area surrounding a new arena, with an estimated cost of $41.5 million. This plan, which aims to create a vibrant Canal District, includes various community-oriented features and infrastructure improvements intended to enhance the neighborhood surrounding the arena.

The proposed Canal District will cover a sprawling 55-acre park that is set to include lakes, walking and biking paths, and athletic fields. Plans also call for the Springfield Canal to be widened, a move designed to improve drainage and support recreational boating activities. A central plaza, conceptually similar to the popular Savannah Riverwalk, is planned east of the arena site at the intersection of Gwinnett Street and Stiles Avenue.

To further support both pedestrian and cyclist accessibility, road improvements will be undertaken. The primary goal of these enhancements is to integrate the arena within the local neighborhood, breaking with past practices that often resulted in standalone facilities that lacked connectivity. The focus area for all proposed improvements is west of Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard, situated between Louisville Road and Interstate 16, in close proximity to the Carver Village community and the Brickyard neighborhood.

The planned developments will occur on city-owned property, and additional housing, retail, and office space is expected to emerge in vacant spaces previously used for industrial purposes. This transformation may lead to increased property values in the area, which could facilitate financing for public improvements and potentially generate $7 million in additional annual tax revenue. To move forward with these plans, Savannah City Manager Rob Hernandez noted that the project may need to be included in the next Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax (SPLOST) referendum.

The Canal District is projected to unfold over the next 15 to 20 years, with subsequent improvements planned further south towards Bowles Ford Park and the Tatemville community, which are estimated to cost an additional $34.5 million. Meanwhile, the new arena itself is expected to be completed by 2021, despite increases in construction costs from the earlier estimated $140 million.

This revised Canal District initiative follows an earlier study contract approved in May 2015, which totaled $175,800, along with an additional $242,150 allocated for the updated development plan. The Savannah City Council is committed to ensuring that progress on the arena and various public projects is evident to secure future voter support, as emphasized by Savannah Alderman Van Johnson.