Historic Savannah Foundation, a leading preservation organization committed to preserving and protecting Savannah's heritage, made a check donation in the amount of $20,000 to the Coastal Heritage Society on Wednesday, May 27, 2015. The donated funds will go directly to the stabilization and weatherization of two historic cottages located at 536 W. Charlton St. and 342 Purse St. in downtown Savannah’s Frogtown neighborhood just west of MLK, Blvd. where I-16 comes into the city.

“We are pleased to support the preservation efforts of the Coastal Heritage Society,” Daniel Carey, president and CEO of Historic Savannah Foundation. “It’s important to protect the history of these two cottages as they both served as former homes to railroad workers many years ago.”

The two cottages, which are owned by CHS, were previously moved to safety several years ago when the Marriott Courtyard hotel was built.  The Frogtown neighborhood has experienced revitalization over the last decade with the addition of student housing, condos and SCAD developments. In exchange for the grant funds, CHS will provide 10-year easements back to HSF to ensure their care and preservation.  

“We are extremely grateful for the donation from Historic Savannah Foundation,” said Sandra Baxter, CEO of Coastal Heritage Society. “The funds will allow us to kick start this important revitalization project immediately, as it would have taken us much longer to raise the money to even begin the work without the help from HSF.”

The project will begin with improvements to the exteriors of the homes, followed by the interiors which are in various states of neglect.The estimated time of completion for the project is two years.

For more information, please contact Becki Harkness at Coastal Heritage Society at 912.651.6840 or Daniel Carey at Historic Savannah Foundation at 912.233.7787.