A 54-acre expansion of downtown Savannah

A 54-acre expansion of the downtown of Savannah, Georgia, extends the historic city’s connection to the Savannah River. The plan for Savannah River Landing, initiated by the city, includes a series of squares based on the city’s famous Oglethorpe plan. It generally emulates the urban design and architectural patterns of Savannah. Christian Sottile, a professor at the Savannah College of Art and Design, was primarily responsible for the plan, New Urban News was told by Brian Brodrick of Jackson Spalding, a spokesman for the developer. Niles Bolton Associates of Atlanta was also involved in the design. The developer is the Ambling Companies of Valdosta, Georgia.

Currently in groundbreaking, the $800 million development includes 11 mid-rise buildings with 350,000 square feet of office and retail space, condominiums and lofts above street-level shops and restaurants, plus a luxury hotel and a boutique hotel. A variety of other residential units will also be built on low-rise blocks, including townhouses, condominiums, and riverfront detached houses. A total of 850 units are planned. Construction is expected to begin in 2007 and follow a 10-year buildout.