Ethos Preservation, LLC, recently opened in Savannah, offering a variety of historic preservation services, with a focus on project consulting in historic districts. The company, founded by preservation planning consultants Ellen Harris and Rebecca Fenwick, combines public and private preservation planning expertise to offer clients a source for municipal preservation planning, developer guidance, preservation tax credits, historical research and community engagement.

“Guiding our work is the belief that our communities are shaped and enhanced by historic buildings,” said Fenwick, co-owner and principal of Ethos Preservation. She explained the company’s mission, which neatly ties in with its tagline, Preservation with Purpose.

“Ethos is guided by the principles of historic preservation,” Fenwick said. “This, combined with a promise of honesty and integrity, is the core of our business practice.”

Ethos provides services to a variety of clients including commercial, residential, institutional and governmental entities.

“For projects in Savannah’s historic districts, we can assist in navigating processes at the state and local levels,” said Ellen Harris, co-owner and principal of Ethos. Equipped with expansive knowledge, thanks partially to the 13 years she spent with the Savannah-Chatham County Metropolitan Planning Commission, Harris elaborated on the benefits of this endeavor.

“We are extremely familiar with the ordinances and processes that govern projects. Our expertise also benefits municipalities, as we can assist in the development and refinement of ordinances related to historic preservation, create educational materials such as design guidelines, prepare surveys and National Register nominations, and develop rehabilitation incentive programs,” she said.

A certified planner, Harris is the former Director of Urban Planning and Historic Preservation for the Savannah-Chatham County Metropolitan Planning Commission (MPC). Fenwick is the former Director of Preservation for Lominack Kolman Smith Architects, where she managed over a dozen projects involving existing buildings and assisted on numerous others.