Manger Building hotel conversation, rehab plan up for Historic District Board of Review consideration

Eric Curl
·2 min read

During a time when even Zoom is asking employees to return to the office, a number of downtown Savannah businesses may soon be dependent on the remote video service.

A developer's plan to rehabilitate the historic Manger building in order to convert the 10-story office structure overlooking Johnson Square into a hotel is scheduled to go before the Historic District Board of Review on Wednesday.

The Manger Building at 7 E. Congress St.
The Manger Building at 7 E. Congress St.

In addition to renovating the historic building at 7 East Congress St., New York-based LEFT LANE is proposing to construct an adjacent 2-story addition for use as an event space along Congress that would be connected to the hotel by a new enclosed walkway.  The project also includes the addition of a rooftop bar and pool deck. In addition, the elevator shaft would be demolished to install a taller elevator shaft on Congress Lane.

Staff is recommending a decision on the plan be postponed so LEFT LANE can consider ways to reduce the amount of historic brick removed for the event space and elevator shaft addition. In addition, staff found that the height of the proposed event venue is not visually compatible with the historic building. There are also concerns the rooftop will be visible from the ground and impact the character defining features at the top of the historic building.

"This is an iconic building in Savannah, and such an addition could severely impact this view," the staff report states.

A rendering of the proposed repurposing of the historic Manger Building into a hotel and the new event space.
A rendering of the proposed repurposing of the historic Manger Building into a hotel and the new event space.

Left Lane to 'respectfully' work with current tenants on relocation

Constructed in 1912, the building was originally a hotel until 1977 before being converted for use as an office building in 1985. Today, the building continues to be occupied by a number of tenants, including multiple law firms.

LEFT LANE purchased the building for $18 million last November. The sale came after the Savannah City Council approved an amendment to the city's hotel overlay district in August to allow for the conversion. Previously, the ordinance prohibited hotels at the site because it did not front a street where they were allowed. The amendment added a condition that allows for the re-establishment of a historic hotel if it is a historic building that was converted from a hotel to another use within a designated “period of significance” from 1733-1960.

LEFT LANE plans to start the first phase of work on the existing building in early 2024, with the restored structure opening as a new hotel in 2026, according to a statement provided by the developer’s spokesperson.

"LEFT LANE continues to respectfully work with the relocation of all tenants," the statement said.

In addition to the upper-level businesses, a bar, Jen’s and Friends, and sandwich shop, Jimmy John’s, operate on the building’s ground level. The hotel will include several food and beverage outlets, including a street-side French eatery and lobby café, according to LEFT LANE.

Eric Curl was a Savannah Morning News reporter for 14 years. After leaving the News, he launched Savannahagenda.com, to grow awareness and engagement with local planning, zoning and development decisions, business development and community causes.

This article originally appeared on Savannah Morning News: Savannah GA Historic District Board Review considers conversion Manger Building