PRESERVATION STRATEGIES

Architectural Inventory

A comprehensive architectural inventory of all buildings within the Landmark District was completed in 1962. Over 1100 structures were mapped and professionally evaluated for their architectural significance. This survey was a very effective method of communicating the Landmark's Districts importance to the public. Dilapidated historic buildings were purchased in areas where the concentration was large enough to provide a significant impact on the surrounding neighborhoods. An initial decision of the Foundation was not to restore buildings, but to act as a conduit to transfer the buildings to owners who were willing to rehabilitate them within a time specified in covenants attached to the deed.

Revolving Fund

In the early 1960s Savannah banks made loans to the foundation for property purchases. This Revolving fund was replenished by fund raising efforts, membership dues, and reinvestment of proceeds from sales of properties. The Foundation stretched its limited funds by selective purchasing and the use of options. Using only $38,000 of seed money from its Revolving Fund for option purchase, $1 Million in reinvestment was created in the 13 acre Pulaski Square-West Jones Street project area in the mid 1960s.The Revolving Fund continues to be the Foundation's primary preservation program

Education and Community Involvement

Recognizing that Savannah was undersold as a convention and tourist destination, the Foundation was successful in promoting the establishment of a Convention and Visitors Bureau within the Chamber of Commerce. A speaker’s bureau was created within the Foundation to tout the economic benefits of tourism. Heritage education is emphasized through an annual Georgia Day Celebration. On February 12 of each year, the significance of the city's cultural heritage is brought to thousands of school children through costumed colonial characters, town meetings and parades. The celebration actually takes place over a multi week period and is now sponsored by the Georgia Historical Society.

In 1966 the area comprising Oglethorpe's original city plan and an extended area was designated a National Historic Landmark District. In 1968 the City and the Foundation succeeded in convincing the State Legislature to pass an amendment to the Georgia Constitution that authorized historic zoning in Savannah. The Historic Review Board was established in 1973, ushering in a new era of regulated development within the Historic District.

The interest of the Foundation expanded to another Historic District in 1979. The Foundation received a Community Development Block Grant from the City of Savannah to establish a Revolving Fund for use in the Victorian Historic District. The Duffy Street Project led to the purchase and resale of 21 structures. Additional neighborhoods such as Ardsley Park/Chatham Crescent were soon designated as historic districts on the National register through the research efforts of the Foundation. This emphasis on raising the awareness of the benefits of historic preservation in the 20th century neighborhoods has continued with the formation of a neighborhood council and in 2001 the Revolving Fund purchased and resold several building in the Thomas Square Historic District.

At the same time that the Foundation was expanding its Revolving Fund to the Victorian District, a decision was made to restore the Regency style mansion designed by William Jay for William Scarborough. The structure on Martin Luther King, Jr. Boulevard became the Foundation's headquarters in 1976 and drew attention to the western portion of the Historic District. Upon completion of the Scarborough House, the Foundation shifted its attention to Broughton Street, the downtown commercial corridor. Subsequently, the City formed a development authority that makes facade renovation loans along both the MLK Boulevard and Broughton Street corridors.

In 1998 the National Trust for Historic Preservation held its Annual Conference in Savannah to showcase to the nation the preservation accomplishments that had taken place in the 30 years since its previous meeting in Savannah in 1968. New initiatives in the 21st Century have focused on streetscapes, canopy tree planting, urban livability issues, and formation of the Historic Neighborhood Council.