Wow, Atlanta developer Ben Carter has huge plans for downtown Savannah. Here's the scoop from Eric Curl and Julia Ritchey of the Savannah Morning News.
Atlanta developer Ben Carter outlined a $75 million plan Thursday to return Savannah’s historic downtown Broughton Street to its former glory as a shopping and dining hub.
Carter told the Savannah City Council he wants to buy 24 properties as part of his plan and already has two with contracts on 22 more.
His plan includes retail, dining and residential. By having control of so many properties, desirable businesses are easier to attract because they often want to have compatible neighbors, he said.
Carter said he wants to bring in a mixture of local and national businesses, as well as higher-end and less costly ones.
“America shops all kinds of price points,” he said.
The project is a work in progress, said Carter, who is scheduled to hold a 1 p.m. briefing Tuesday on the project.
The City Council was generally enthusiastic about the project and its potential to revitalize the street and create jobs.
Mayor Edna Jackson said it was important to lure new businesses but wanted to make sure existing businesses are not driven out.
Alderman Tony Thomas said he had some concerns about a lack of parking, but Alderman John Hall said the issue should not get in the way. Anyway, Hall said, he would prefer people walk or use pedicabs to get around.
Alderman Van Johnson said public transit should also be considered as an alternative to driving.
Alderman Tom Bordeaux said he would welcomed the challenge if it meant greater investment on the street.
“That’s our job,” he said. “We’ll find parking.”
“If you want me to do parking, I’ve got to go home,” Carter said. “I can’t do parking.”
“Bear in mind that these buildings have been here for 200 years,” Carter said. “All we are trying to do is improve the occupancy.”
Mixed reactions from Broughton Street businesses
Business owners along Broughton Street expressed mixed emotions about Carter’s plans Thursday afternoon.
Carter alluded to King Street in Charleston as an inspiration for Broughton’s revitalization as well as his own background developing upscale shopping malls. Charleston’s main strip is packed full of high-end retailers such as Brooks Brothers, Bebe and Benetton.
Without disclosing any names, he said he already had given tours to 30 national retailers interested in Savannah’s downtown.
Many of the Broughton shopkeepers who were interviewed are longtime tenants who’ve seen the ups and downs of the downtown corridor. Some expressed doubts about parking and the ability to maintain a healthy mix of local stores and national chains, while others welcomed the outside investment and proposed upgrades.
One of the buildings sold to Carter is 223 Broughton, which is home to Savannah Goods American Craftsman Gallery and has windows filled with going-out of-business signs.
Manager Jane Gogh said she felt positive about any plans to improve Broughton, but warned that Savannah should do more to support locally owned, independent stores already there.
Joseph Dabit, owner of The Mens Store by Joseph at 28 W. Broughton, said he was approached by Carter last November to sell his buildings. Dabit is also part owner of 26 W. Broughton, and his parents own 22 W. Broughton, currently occupied by Copper Penny and Shooz.
“As of now, I have no plans to sell,” said Dabit. “We’ve been here 24, 25 years. We’ve seen the worst, and if it’s going to get better, we want to be part of it.”
Longtime owners of Gina’s Beauty Supply store, Michael and Sandra Rhee, took differing views. They’ve been in their current location at 25 W. Broughton for about 25 years.
“It will be kind of like a monopoly,” said Sandra. “He needs to take time and not rush it too much. I’m concerned it’s going to be all big chains.”
Michael agreed that mom and pop stores may not be able to survive if property taxes and rents go up, but said overall he felt positive about upgrading the street.
“He’s going to pay a lot of property taxes, so he deserves to request some assistance from the city and state,” said Michael, whose parents own their building and another one across the street.
Upgraded streetscape
Some of Carter’s sketches presented to the council showed wrought-iron planters, additional trees, benches and reconfigured crosswalks. He’s asking the city to pitch in to upgrade the streetscape.
One of his proposals includes putting a garden planter on each corner and removing a parking bay in order to shorten the crosswalks for pedestrians.
“Parking is the biggest drawback for all businesses,” said Shaun Mirch, manager of the New York Boutique at 127 Broughton. “Every time we have a customer that wants to shop, they’re worried in the back of their mind that they can’t shop peacefully because they’re scared of getting a parking ticket.”
Shaun and his wife Madhuri Mirch said they have been on Broughton since 1977. Their lease is up in their current location next to the Marshall House, and they’re not sure whether the owners plan to sell the building.
They have bought a building at 19 W. Broughton to relocate and said they will not sell it. They said Carter had been approaching nearly everyone on the street.
“It’s going to cause properties and rents to go sky-high, so the only people that will be able to afford those rents are the national chains,” said Shaun. “That’s happening now. If you look 30 or 20 years ago, you used to have a lot of local, independent stores. Now it’s all tourists, and there’s no local customers coming hardly.”
Jimmy Parker of J. Parker Ltd men’s clothing store has been on Broughton for 40 years and in his present location in the SunTrust building for 10. Parker said the rumors about Carter’s plans have been circulating for quite some time.
He said an Ann Taylor and H&M were supposed to go into the building across from him at 15 W. Broughton that formerly was occupied by Shipwreck Restaurant & Lounge and Fuddrucker’s.
“I’m mixed about it because it’s a two-way street,” said Parker, who said he’s in favor of a vibrant downtown but not in favor of pushing out the little guy. “Fortunately … I’ve got a nice long-term lease and good terms.”
Asked about parking concerns with an influx of retailers, Parker said it’s always going to be a problem.
“Parking has been an issue since ’62 when I started working at Levy’s (Jewelers), which is SCAD Library now, and you couldn’t park then,” said Parker.
Adam Turoni, proprietor of Chocolat by Adam Turoni, said he felt positive about Carter’s proposal.
“I’m extremely excited, I welcome the expansion and revitalization of Broughton,” said Turoni, who closed on his building about a year ago at 323 W. Broughton. “I hope they keep a little bit of a balance, we don’t want to see the small guys go away.”
Carter sought to allay concerns about tenant mix and his visions for the streetscape during the council meeting.
“We’re not saying take it or leave it. We’re saying let’s dream together and see what we can do,” said Carter.
Carter’s own portfolio includes four million square feet of retail projects such as the Mall of Georgia in Gwinnett County, upscale St. John’s Town Center in Jacksonville, Fla., the future Tanger Savannah in Pooler and a similar project announced Wednesday in Augusta.
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