The City Council authorized staff to contract with the Urban Land Institute’s (ULI) Technical Assistant Panel (TAP) members to provide preliminary findings, and a report regarding the redevelopment of the Savannah Civic Center Site.  The attached TAP’s final report was prepared by ULI’s Atlanta Leadership and provides a detailed exploration of key finding as well as more comprehensive panel recommendations than what was presented during the October 30, 2018 presentation.

Below are excerpts from the final report that appear on page 22-23, and additional recommendations for the City Council to consider:

• “It cannot be overstated what an important role the Civic Center has played in the past four-plus decades for the City of Savannah. The MLK Arena, the Johnny Mercer Theatre, and the other common spaces in the complex have been the site for important milestones for individuals and families, as well as for visitors to Savannah since the day it opened its doors.”
• “These uses have been and should remain vitally important priorities for the City as it seeks to both honor the past and move forward with plans to revitalize the Study Area. However, it is the panel’s view that it is no longer feasible for these activities to occur in this particular place at this time in the City’s growth trajectory.”
• “It is the panel’s strong recommendation that the entire Civic Center Complex be removed and preparations for the restoration of the Oglethorpe Plan in this area be pursued.”

There are many advantages to accepting the recommendatoins of the ULI panel.  First, the City will likely experience economic and fiscal impacts from the construction process.  Second, the City will add the property back to the tax rolls.  Third, the redevelopment of the site will stimulate economic growth and activity.  Finally, the City will position the area to attract jobs, and increase the housing and commerical inventory with a mix of uses.

Staff recommends accepting the four ULI recommendations:

1. Remove the Wall
2. Re-establish the Square and Street Patterns of the Oglethorpe Plan 
3. Establish Height Limits
4. Pursue Mixed-use Development