Transcript Welcome to Savannah

Welcome to Savannah
Savannah is known as America's first planned city. General James
Oglethorpe laid the city out in a series of grids that allowed for wide open
streets intertwined with shady public squares and parks that served as town
meeting places and centers of business. Savannah had 24 original squares
and 22 squares are still in existence today continuing Oglethorpe's vision.
The City of Savannah
1733
General James Edward Oglethorpe landed with 114 colonists on the Yamacraw Bluff and were greeted by
Yamacraw Chief Tomochici and Indian traders John and Mary Musgrove. Oglethorpe named the 13th and final
American colony "Georgia" after England's King George II. Savannah became its first city.
1755
James Habersham and Francis Harris organized the first import-export businesses of the colony with the selling
of cattle products. Between 1764 and 1773 Savannah exported over 2 million pounds of deer hides establishing
the city as a significant commercial port on the South Atlantic coast.
1789
Savannah's municipal government was created in 1790, the first aldermen were elected by the voters of
Savannah and from their own body, the aldermen elected John Houstoun as Savannah's first mayor.
1790
Eli Whitney develops the Cotton Gin and for nearly a century, trading in the Cotton Exchange on Savannah's
waterfront set world cotton prices and cotton shipments soared to more than two million bales annually.
1791
During the Civil War the city is captured by General William T. Sherman. Upon entering Savannah, Sherman
was said to be so impressed by the City’s beauty that he could not destroy it.
1912
Savannah citizen Juliette Gordon Low formed the first Girl Scout troop in the nation, and later her birthplace was
made into the national Girl Scout museum and national program center.
1966
Many sites in and around Savannah received the National Historic Landmark designation and the city is heralded
as a masterpiece in urban planning.
1977
Multimillion-dollar revitalization effort restores Savannah’s Historic riverfront.
2011
Ellis Square restoration completed restoring a public square that created an urban area that includes a visitor
center, restrooms, an interactive fountain, a variety of seating options, and space for music and other
performances. The park also includes a bronze statue of Savannah native and well known songwriter Johnny
Mercer.
City Demographics
• 136,286 population
•
3.6% since 2000
•
Median Age - 31.3
•
Race
• 55.4 % African Americans
• 38.3 % White
• 6.3 % Other
•
Educational Attainment
• 23.2 % B. A. Degree or higher
• 60.2% High School Diploma
• 16.5% No High School Diploma
•
Median Income per household - $33,316
Local Economy
• Top Employment Sectors
• Management
• Professional
• Service
• 8.9 % Unemployment rate
• National 8.7% State 9.4%
• 25% Poverty Rate
• Real Estate
– Median home sales price $144,900
City’s Vision
Savannah
will be a safe,
environmentally
healthy, and
economically thriving
community for all its
citizens!
City Priorities
• Public Safety
• Poverty Reduction
• Neighborhood Vitality
• High Performing
Government
• Health and Environment
• Economic Growth
• Culture and Recreation
• Ambassadorship
City Initiatives
•
Neighborhood Renaissance Savannah
•
Corridor Revitalization
•
•
•
•
•
•
Wheaton Street
Waters Ave.
Pennsylvania Avenue
MLK/Montgomery
Augusta Ave./West Savannah
Project Derenne
•
Affordable Housing & Neighborhood
Sustainability
•
Savannah’s Affordable Housing Fund
•
Economic Empowerment
•
Enterprise Zones
Initiative Locations
Waters Ave.
Corridor Revitalization
• Empower residents to lead
organizations and facilitate
change
• Improve quality of life
• Build community
partnerships
• Improve housing conditions
and options
• Improve neighborhood
safety
Pennsylvania Ave.
• Revitalization of Strathmore
Savannah Gardens
BEFORE
• Investment of more than $70 million
•
•
•
•
44 Acre site - 5 Acres green space
Green Design and Construction
120 Single Family Houses
338 Apartments + 60 Senior Apartments
AFTER
Martin Luther King, Jr. Blvd and
Montgomery St.
•
Stimulant for corridor revitalization
•
Micro & Small Business Development &
Support
•
•
•
•
•
SBAC
MBDA
Economic Development
Department
Entrepreneurial Center
Streetscape Improvements
•
•
•
Brick Sidewalks
Ornamental Lighting
ADA Compliance
Savannah Pharmacy
West Savannah/Augusta Ave.
• Sustainable Fellwood
• Moses Jackson Advancement
Center
• Single Family Infill Housing
• FEMA Lot Redevelopment
SUSTAINABLE FELLWOOD
• Augusta Avenue Improvements
• Lady Bamford Center
• Passive Parks created
MOSES JACKSON COMMUNITY GARDEN
Project DeRenne
Tatemville Noise Barrier
City Mobility
RIVER ST. VISITOR CENTER
RIVER ST. RAMP
WHITAKER ST. GARAGE
City Parks and Squares
FORSYTH PARK
ELLIS SQUARE