At the October luncheon meeting of Savannah’s Downtown Business Association, President Ruel Joyner, owner of 24e Design Company at 24 E. Broughton, opened with the provocative and all-encompassing question: “What do you want from your downtown?”

Then, Joyner introduced developer Ben Carter of Ben Carter Enterprises. By now, most people in Savannah know that Ben Carter is the very accomplished developer who is breathing new life into Downtown Savannah’s Broughton Street retail corridor in a major $75 million redevelopment effort. 

Carter has developed over 3 billion square feet of premium retail space since 1993. One of his creations, is Jacksonville’s posh 1.2 million square-feet retail complex known as St. John’s Center, in which Carter held 50 percent interest. St. John’s boasts more than 150 upscale retail and restaurant establishments. This past June, Carter sold his entire interest in St. John’s for a reported $375 million. He said he did this in order to focus his efforts on the Broughton Street redevelopment project here in Savannah.

“I believe it’s an opportunity that is bigger than Charleston’s King Street,” said Carter in his address to representatives of over 200 businesses as well as members of the media at Savannah’s Charles H. Morris Center last Wednesday, October 8. 

Carter spent a lot of time in both Charleston and Savannah three years ago. “We’re trying hard to get to know people here.” Of the 120 different storefronts in the Broughton Street Retail District, he has secured ownership of 37.

The redevelopment project is designed to enhance retail sales by converting and purchasing Downtown Savannah’s historic buildings and repurposing them through a mixed-use renovation effort. The mixed-use plan is for upgraded retail space and quality, very desirable residential units – second- and third-floor condominiums. “We’re looking at total restoration, inside and out,” said Carter. Carter has reportedly spent some $6 million to restore original facades along the street that have been covered over with stucco  and other more modern materials – modifications that had taken place in the years prior to Savannah’s strict historic preservation codes. “Every building has its own personality and its own problems,” he said. “We want to bring those buildings back to life and give them another 250 years of life.”

Carter’s mixture not only involves retail and residential, but a combination of international, national, regional and local retailers, as well as what he calls “chef-driven restaurants.” “Hopefully, this time next year, you’ll walk down Broughton and see most of the buildings restored,” he said.

The developer emphasized the plurality of this effort. “This is not Ben Carter’s Project,” said Carter, citing the invaluable efforts of Karen Guinn, owner of Collective Marketing and Carter’s PR and marketing agency, and architect Patrick Shay, Principal at Gunn Meyerhoff Shay. Carter said the amenities; that is sidewalks, lamps, planters, trees, etc. require upgrading and a consistent rhythm. In other words, the quality and appearance of the streetscape itself is essential to the success of the project. Carter called for a complete overhaul of benches, street lamps, bike racks, paving materials, planters, trash receptacles, newspaper vending machines and kiosks. He also advanced his plan to have a City-run rubber-tired trolley that would reach out about three or four miles to bring locals in to shop, along with enhanced trolley stops, as well as quiet areas known as “pocket parks” every few yards along the corridor where people can sit and talk a bit more removed from the clatter of business. He also emphasized complete handicapped accessibility. All of this, of course, Carter plans to do with the utmost attention to historic preservation and the unique character of America’s largest historic district. Carter said he’d even like to offer valet parking on the street if the City will approve it.

Carter said phase one will begin at Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard and go eastward to Lincoln Street. He has offered a gateway structure to Broughton Street from MLK as a point to get the design conversation started.

As America’s first planned city, Savannah continues to display the genius of General James Oglethorpe, the designer of Savannah and founder of our country’s 13^th colony. “Oglethorpe was a visionary,” said Carter. “He designed Savannah as a gird of public squares that served to bring people together. That’s what I want to do.”

At the beginning of his presentation, Carter showed an old historic photograph of Broughton Street from the early twentieth century. It shows the area bustling with local traffic and lots of pedestrian activity. Carter pointed out some the amenities in the photo, such as strings of over-the-street lights, banners and flags that made the area feel vital and festive. All of these things are now prohibited by ordinance, he said. Carter said he wants to see the festive atmosphere return to Broughton Street. He has engaged a window display artist that did the Macy’s Christmas window displays on New York’s storied 34^th Street for years. “I want to make Broughton Street world famous for its holiday window displays,” he said.

These plans and so much more make up the vision for a bright future for Savannah’s beloved Broughton Street – a future that must and will come full circle to its glorious past. “Why am I doing this?” said Carter. “Because I care,” he said. “The City has asked me to start a [community-wide] dialog. It’s a unique opportunity to revitalize a key corridor.”