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By Taysha Murtaugh, Country Living
The streets of downtown Savannah, Georgia are getting a bit of a makeover. Though the small Southern town takes pride in its historical roots (it was the first planned city in America in 1733!), every city needs a refresh at some point. For the reported $14 million renovation, the town tapped EDSA, an international planning, landscape, and urban design firm.
The 2018 initiative will focus on parts of Broughton, Bay, and River streets and better utilize the waterfront and public spaces, says Architectural Digest. EDSA dreamed up two different design plans:
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[post_ads]"Once we understood the vision and created our guiding principles for the project we came up with two initial concepts for the community to react to," John Torti, a senior associate at EDSA, tells the publication. "One focuses on the historical significance of the city, pulling cues from the city's grid system, the use of live oak trees, and the historic building materials. The other ties in with the city's relationship to the water, in this case the Savannah River, which really is the true lifeline of the city—it's what brought the first ships there in 1733. This plan lends itself more towards wayfinding, using palm trees and nautical detailing to orient users in the downtown area and guide them to the river."
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Of course, when it's an old town like Savannah, Georgia, the history of the streets must be taken into consideration. Savannah is famous for its grid system, which British colonist James Edward Oglethorpe laid out in the 18th century. In fact, Savannah's gorgeous layout may be to thank for saving the city during the Civil War: Some say General Sherman couldn't bear to destroy such a pretty place when he passed through.
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Another important part of the process? Community input. ESDA has already had six meetings with the public. Now, it's up to ESDA to perfect the design plan and for city planners to create a timeline for implementation, reports Curbed.
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"The ultimate plan, once implemented, will provide a safe, walkable public realm that enriches the quality of life for Savannah residents while continuing to exceed visitors' expectations," Torti told Architectural Digest. "It will be a design that celebrates the city's natural and timeless beauty while preserving the history and tradition of Savannah—making it a model city for another century to come."
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"The ultimate plan, once implemented, will provide a safe, walkable public realm that enriches the quality of life for Savannah residents while continuing to exceed visitors' expectations," Torti told Architectural Digest. "It will be a design that celebrates the city's natural and timeless beauty while preserving the history and tradition of Savannah—making it a model city for another century to come."
