QUALITY OF LIFE Introduction Chatham County seeks to provide an excellent quality of life for its citizens. In an effort to maintain such a high level, the County has a responsibility to promote and support programs and regulations that positively impact the quality of life of its residents. The citizens of this community can only achieve a superior quality of life when a safe, active, and healthy environment exists. This element includes an inventory and assessment of the following quality of life aspects: Historic and Cultural DRAFT Resources,DRAFT Education, Health, Public Safety, and Broadband. Historic Resources Public Safety Education Broadband Community Health Quality of life Quality Element 08 HISTORIC & CULTURAL RESOURCES Savannah and Chatham County showcase centuries of significant tax incentives, but provide little protection of the Beginnings of Historic Preservation The legacy of the Oglethorpe Plan in Savannah is evident growth and change, treasured parks and squares, valued actual resources. in its unique layout and architectural diversity. In 1966, Historic preservation in Savannah had its official beginning and varied culture, and historic architecture. Historic this legacy paved the way for downtown Savannah to in 1955, when the Historic Savannah Foundation was preservation, synonymous for many with quality of life, Local historic districts are established by ordinance and become a designated National Historic Landmark. By 1973, established. Spurred by the proposed demolition of the is a valuable planning tool that is used to protect the include specific design standards. These standards which a historic zoning ordinance was adopted by the Savannah Isaiah Davenport House, an 1820s brick home on Columbia community’s historic, cultural, and archaeological resources. ensure that rehabilitation of historic structures and new City Council; as a result, thousands of resources all over the Square, a group of women came together to save the home. The preservation of these resources ensures that the history development is consistent with the historic character of the city were identified and protected. Other neighborhoods Following the loss of many significant buildings, such as the of Savannah and Chatham County is retained and honored district by requiring a Certificate of Appropriateness review sought designation leading to 16 historic districts in the City 1901 Grand Union Station and the City Market building in while planning for its future. process. of Savannah, 6 historic districts in Chatham County and Ellis Square, the public began to recognize the importance of numerous registered historic places and individual properties It is important to note that historic preservation is not only preserving architecturally and culturally significant buildings Establishing historic districts is one of the main ways to throughout the City and County today. engage in historic preservation. Savannah and Chatham a mechanism for protecting historic assets and ensuring and sites. Historic preservation in Savannah and Chatham County have dozens of both locally and federally recognized compatible new development, but for affecting social, County, as it did around the country, began to be a priority. districts. National Register historic districts are recognized demographic, and economic change in our communities. by the Federal government and qualify property owners for What is the Oglethorpe Plan? YTH PARK ITY MARKET S MUSEUM ETHORPE PL ORS H C HT OGL AN N F NA RIG HE O AN IL T ES AV IV OF M S C P O The nucleus of the Oglethorpe Plan, created by A H M James Edward Oglethorpe, is the ward. Each ward DRAFT centers on a square of greenspace and is part of a DRAFT larger integrated regional land system that originally expanded out to include five-acre garden plots and forty-five-acre farms; these were intended for each of the new members of the Georgia colony. The plan informed the architecture and development patterns in the region for decades, with a dense urban pattern of townhouses and carriage houses in the original town and a more suburban pattern as development extends into former farm lots. Quality of Life 170 PLAN 2040 PLAN 2040 171 HISTORIC RESOURCE SURVEYS Historic Resource Surveys Historic Preservation in Chatham County identified by the (SHPO) State Historic Preservation Office Markers, Monuments & Public Art and/or City Preservation Officer through the prior National A historic resources survey collects and records information In 2005, Chatham County adopted a historic preservation Objects such as markers, monuments, and public art are Historic Preservation Act Section 106 reviews and were also about historic structures, sites, landscapes, and objects ordinance and was designated as a Certified Local vital cultural resources for the community, and it is critical previously identified as “historic” in the Chatham County- within a given area and provides detailed information Government (CLG), allowing them to designate local historic that the surveys of such resources are kept up-to-date Savannah Comprehensive Plan. A major deciding factor was through photographs and field notes. Historic resource districts. The County has designated 2 local historic districts and accurate. In 2013, the MPC Preservation Department that all identified neighborhoods were over 50 years old surveys are vital to the planning and preservation process and 3 local individual properties, in addition to federally updated the maps and lists, which keep track of what and and maintained a high level of integrity. The plan was that and promotes awareness of a community’s historic and recognized districts and places, such as Fort Pulaski and where these resources are. While the installation of markers, areas to be surveyed would be selected by the City based cultural resources. Wormsloe Plantation. monuments, and public art continued to be approved, the on an established set of criteria including interest, need, catalog of these resources was not being actively updated. and size. The areas that have been surveyed or re-surveyed Resources Impacted by Climate Change Since 2005, however, preservation at the County level has A comprehensive update to the maps and lists of all under this project include: Carver Village, Victorian Historic Due to its location on the coast of Georgia, climate and sea fallen off. In 2019, the County's status as a Certified Local monuments, markers, and public art within Chatham County District, and Cuyler-Brownville Historic District (two phases). level rise (SLR) is an important topic when preparing for and Government lapsed. Efforts need to be made to reinstate the was completed in 2020. Moving forward, this catalog of Future phases are intended for this project until all existing ensuring protection of our historic and cultural resources. CLG status of the County and continue to survey and list all resources should be kept actively up to date as new markers, outdated resource surveys are updated, and new areas are The first step in planning for the climate resiliency of historic eligible sites, neighborhoods, and properties in Savannah monuments, and public art are approved. and cultural resources is assessing which areas, structures, and Chatham County on the local and national registers. complete. and sites are at a higher risk of impact from sea level rise, ISTORIC DIS OWNVILLE H N H TRIC -BR IST natural disasters, and other effects of climate change. Historic preservation is architectural GE RIA T LER OR LA TO Y IC IL IC CU DI Surveys in Savannah and Chatham County should focus on history, community planning, historical V V ST ER R V IC those resources that may require adaptation or mitigation R T research and surveys, oral history, A strategies in the next 5 to 10 years. This will likely include DRAFT C DRAFT coastal areas or areas that are more at risk of inundation, archaeology, economic revitalization, and such as Skidaway, Talahi, Whitemarsh, and Wilmington so much more. Quality of life, sense of Islands. place, pride of place–it’s all connected to Inclusive Surveying historic preservation. Historic preservation has often underrepresented or —Preservation in Pink deliberately overlooked historic and cultural resources in communities of color and places associated with LGBTQ history. This leaves thousands of historic and culturally The Savannah City—Wide Survey Project important resources at risk of being lost, increasing the Since 2012, the MPC Preservation Department, the City threats of displacement and gentrification. Inclusive of Savannah, and the Georgia DNR’s Historic Preservation surveying in Savannah and Chatham County is a necessary Division have been working on a city-wide survey project. step to ensuring that these groups can protect the history The project idea developed after 30 eligible historic areas and culture of their community while they grow. were identified within the city limits. These areas were Quality of Life 172 PLAN 2040 " PLAN 2040 173 PRESERVATION & HEALTHY COMMUNITIES AFFORDABLE HOUSING It is important to note that historic preservation in Savannah Old and historic places, many of which were planned before and Chatham County is not only a mechanism for protecting CUYLER–BROWNVILLE HISTORIC DISTRICT the advent of the car, often exemplify the characteristics of COVID–19 PANDEMIC historic assets and ensuring compatible new development, healthy community design. These older communities, such but for affecting social, demographic, and economic change Cuyler-Brownville, a historically African American as the historic districts in Savannah, are likely to be walkable COVID–19 officially became a pandemic in March of in our communities. Preservation in low-income communi- neighborhood, was designated a National Register Historic with ample access to open space and healthy foods. In 2020. This global health crisis has had tremendous ties raises concerns about fairness, affordability, and inclu- District in 1997. However, the attached rowhouses and addition to walkability, the preservation of our community's economic, cultural, and social impacts on all aspects of working-class housing that typify the neighborhood remain life, including historic preservation work. The mental and sion.