The City of Savannah and partners P3 Joint Venture Group invite residents to join officials, staff, and special guests at a groundbreaking ceremony on Friday, Oct. 25 at 2 p.m. for The Legacy Savannah, a planned development of affordable housing, recreation, and local economic development on the former Coastal Empire Fairgrounds property. 

P3 Joint Venture Group is scheduled to begin work on the first portion of a multi-phase project that will transform the city-owned property with up to 400 new income-based housing units that range from single family homes and townhomes to affordable senior living and apartments.  The development will also feature public recreation amenities and economic development spaces focused on the growing local film industry.

“The groundbreaking ceremony for ‘The Legacy,’ which will begin the redevelopment of the old Coastal Empire Fairgrounds, is a momentous historic and herstoric event,” Mayor Pro Tem Dr. Estella Edwards Shabazz said. “I am so please that we have reached this point after many years of hard work and I look forward to what the redevelopment of this site will mean for the vitality and quality of life in surrounding neighborhoods and the City of Savannah.” 

The City of Savannah and P3 JVG have closed on the purchase and sale of phase one of the former fairgrounds parcel. The sale followed passage of the new zoning ordinance which was adopted by City Council at its Oct. 11 meeting. 

In the first phase, P3 JVG is developing a 6.15 acre parcel with 30 new single family homes and 20 new townhomes. The single-family homes will be for sale and per the development agreement must be sold to a household making no more than 80% of the area median income. The townhomes will be a mix of for rent and for sale. Rental units must also follow strict guidelines for affordability. Four additional phases are scheduled for closing and commencement of development during the next four years. 

“We have been working towards this moment for a long time,” Mayor Van R. Johnson, II said. “I am excited to break ground on one of the most important housing developments this City has ever undertaken. We are thankful to our development partners at P3 Joint Venture Group, City Council, and Team Savannah for their work on this incredible project.” 

The second phase of the project will be 64 high-quality affordable senior apartments. The project received a 9% Low-Income Housing Tax Credit from the Georgia Department of Community Affairs in September, a crucial award needed by the developer to build the new housing units. 

“I am proud of the leadership of our City Council and the hard work of Team Savannah to shepherd this important project forward, in full collaboration with our development partners and neighborhood leaders,” City Manager Joseph A. Melder said. “This is truly a community development plan drawn from the vision of the surrounding neighbors, and I cannot wait to cut the ribbon on hundreds of new homes, in the heart of our city, that will be affordable for our senior citizens and hard-working Savannahians.”

What: The Legacy Savannah Groundbreaking

When: Friday, Oct. 25, 2 p.m.   

Where: 4801 Meding St. Savannah, Ga.