The Revolving Fund (scroll down to learn about our plaque program)
Historic Savannah Foundation's Revolving Fund is nationally recognized for saving hundreds of historic buildings in Savannah. Historic Savannah Foundation started its Revolving Fund in 1959 and saved blocks and blocks of buildings in Pulaski ward, Monterey ward, Troup ward and throughout the city.
Like most traditional revolving funds, Historic Savannah Foundation purchases endangered historic structures and holds them for resale to a new owner committed to restoration. Historic Savannah Foundation retains a restrictive covenant on the property to assure its future preservation and maintenance.
In the 1990s, Historic Savannah Foundation, with an initial investment of $170,000 in eight dilapidated structures, generated the redevelopment of over $3 million worth of property in the Beach Institute neighborhood. This neighborhood, which is a mixed income, multi-cultural area on the eastern edge of the Landmark District, has now seen the rehabilitation of approximately 60 buildings and is an attractive place to live once again.
The Revolving Fund Program is the single most important program that Historic Savannah Foundation has ever implemented. This powerful preservation tool enables Historic Savannah to preserve endangered buildings through the purchase and resale of these structures to individuals who will restore them.
Donated funds are used over and over again to save historic structures
Here's how it works:
- Donations to HSF Revolving Funds used to purchase an endangered property.
- HSF sells the property to a person who promises to rehabilitate the building.
- HSF insures preservation of the building by attaching protective deed covenants.
- HSF uses the money from the re-sale to purchase another endangered house.
The Fund is called "revolving" because the properties are purchased and resold with the original donations recovered and used over and over again on other properties. The Revolving fund program is not for profit. The Foundation also retains protective covenants on the property to assure its future preservation and maintenance.
To see what properties are currently available, simply click on the Available for Rehabilitation link at the top of this page. For more before and after images, please click on the Success Stories link at the top of the page.
HSF PLAQUE PROGRAM
Historic Savannah Foundation offers handsome hand-cast bronze house plaques for those members whose homes qualify through historic documentation. Whether your historic house is in the Thomas Square Historic District or the Victorian District or another historic neighborhood, these plaques are available for purchase.
The 7"x 10" oval-shaped plaques display the name of the building or for whom it was built, the builder/architect's name, and the date of construction. The cost is $230 ($280 non-members) and mounting screws are provided.
As much research goes into verifying the individual details for each plaque, allow approximately 12 weeks for manufacturing. For more information on the plaque process, please call HSF at 233-7787 or click on this link to download the request form: http://www.historicsavannahfoundation.org/Plaqueorderform.pdf
