Letters: Savannah's historic district in peril? Readers debate over advocacy
The following are selected submission from recent "Letters to the editor." The people's voice is vital to the public dialogue and fostering discussion and solution-seeking to improve the lives of Coastal Empire residents.
Here are the guidelines for submitting letters: Letters should be no longer than 250 words. Any letter exceeding this length will be sent back to the author for revision. Writers should include their full name, city of residence and phone number for verification. Only your name and city will be published.
Savannah's Historic District needs new champions
The other day I realized that Savannah has no group that speaks for historic Savannah. When the Historic Savannah Foundation was active it used to get in the middle of fights about demolition or height requirements, but it no longer does.
Lee Adler as head of HSF filed a lawsuit against the Hyatt when it was first proposed. The result was a reduction in height.
I don’t see anyone or any organization doing that now. I drove along Bay Street recently and a neon beam from a hotel cascaded across Emmett Park to Bay. The Seven Ladies would roll over.
When the short-term vacation rental (STVR) problem arose, there was a lot of discussion. STVRs are hotels. Let us just call them what they are. We all agree that renting out a garage apartment or carriage house is a traditional Savannah activity. In contrast an STVR has multiple renters, all short term and the owner of the main house is nowhere to be found. There is no historic community or family sense coming from STVRs.
Other issues exist. As architect Anna Wright Smith recently pointed out, there is an issue with incompatible fill-in housing in the Historic District. Also, should the Mansion on Forsyth, a luxury hotel, be allowed to expand? The strength of the district is not just in the buildings, but also in homeowners who give them life and substance. Yet they are ignored.
So I ask this question and I think it’s important: Who speaks for the Historic District?
John H. Maclean, Savannah
Downtown residents are champions for the Historic District
I am writing in response to the letter to the editor published on Aug.31 and headlined "Historic District needs new champions." In answer to the writer’s question, the Downtown Neighborhood Association (DNA) is one voice that speaks for the residents of the Historic District.
As examples of that voice working, the DNA pushed the city to enact the following ordinances: establishment of caps on the number of short-term vacation rentals (STVR) in each ward; creation of the hotel overlay limiting the building of large hotels in the downtown and residential area; stopping the establishment of unmanaged Inns to circumvent STVR caps; and placement of limits on where and when tour groups and quadricycles can operate.
Each of these ordinances were initiated by the DNA. Additionally, the DNA fought against the establishment of double-decker tour buses and the building of a cruise ship terminal.
Currently, the DNA is advocating for the establishment of an ordinance limiting the building of large accessory dwelling units in lanes. Our members, who are residents of the Historic District, do not want large buildings or additional STVRs in the lanes. The DNA consistently advocates for the adherence to the Oglethorpe Plan. We have board members dedicated to zoning issues as well as quality of life issues that affect the Historic District.
We agree that the strength of Savannah is its homeowners. Our homes are what bring the tourists and film industry to Savannah.
The DNA fights to protect our quality of life using the force of our members to ensure our voice is heard.
David B. McDonald, president
Downtown Neighborhood Association
This article originally appeared on Savannah Morning News: Reader letters debate protection for Savannah historic district
