Historic Savannah Foundation has committed supplemental funding for preservation initiatives in two historic neighborhoods: Cuyler-Brownville and Magnolia Park.    

The first effort entails a $2,686 cash match from HSF to the City of Savannah for a grant from the Georgia Historic Preservation Division.  The funds will be used to complete a re-survey of the Cuyler-Brownville Historic District, which began last year with a grant from the State.  After the preservation consultant’s reconnaissance survey early this year, it became clear that the 2018 funds would not allow the city to fully survey all buildings within the district that are 40 years old or older, according to Leah Michalak, a senior historic preservation planner with the Chatham County-Savannah Metropolitan Planning Commission.

In agreeing to contribute to the effort, HSF President and CEO Daniel Carey provided a letter of support for the city to submit to GA HPD with their grant application.

“The backbone of any strong local preservation program is an accurate and current inventory of historic resources, and the spate of development occurring in Savannah means that we need current inventories to assess potential impacts to historic properties,” Carey wrote in his letter.   

The city will be notified in May if its grant application is chosen. Work on the survey could begin as early as June and must be complete by Sept. 30, 2020.

HSF’s support for a second preservation-related initiative comes in the form of a $2,000 grant that will be used to help establish the Magnolia Park/Blueberry Hill neighborhood as a National Register Historic District. The designation provides some protection and incentives and means the area is worthy of preservation.  Listing in the National Register helps ensure that growth, development, and change take place in ways that respect the important architectural, historical, and environmental characteristics of the neighborhood. 

The nomination process for this designation is costly, and HSF has committed $2,000 to help underwrite the consultant’s fee. The Magnolia Park Neighborhood Association, headed by resident Michael Connor, will work with Bob Ciucevich, owner of Quatrefoil Consulting, to guide the process.

“Establishing historic districts throughout the city is essential to the continued health of Savannah’s neighborhoods and the community as a whole,” said Carey.  “These districts help tell our area’s diverse and complex story and celebrate local history and architecture.  HSF is pleased to be able to support the Magnolia Park community in its efforts to preserve their distinctive neighborhood.”

HSF saves buildings, places and stories that define Savannah’s past, present, and future. Following its formation in 1955, HSF started a Revolving Fund to save endangered historic properties. To date, HSF has saved and protected more than 370 buildings throughout Savannah’s historic districts. HSF demonstrates the cultural, social and economic benefits of preservation as good public policy by proving that preservation and progress go hand-in-hand.