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Savannah Daily News
Local News

The Georgia Downtown Association and the Georgia Department of Community Affairs annually honor organizations and individuals for their outstanding achievement and revitalization of Georgia's downtowns at the annual Georgia Downtown Conference.

Last week Savannah's Design Assistance Program was recognized at the annual conference in Douglasville as the Outstanding Design Improvement Program for 2008.

The program is an extension of the redevelopment and planning processes for revitalization of the Martin Luther King, Jr. Boulevard (MLK)/ Montgomery Street

Corridor and provides another "tool" in the "tool box" to aid in the revitalization and redevelopment of this critical Corridor and western gateway. The redevelopment planning process identified that many property and business owners along the Corridor wanted to improve their property, but lacked the funding resources or technical knowledge to move forward. With the added impact of the economic downturn, public intervention through funding and technical resources is critical to facilitate revitalization.

"I cannot speak highly enough about the staff at the Savannah Development and Renewal

Authority. Their Design Assistance Program and the expertise in which they execute it is par none. I would strongly recommend anyone considering a redevelopment or

renovation project to seek their counsel and partnership," Reverend Michael S. Stamps,

Sr., Chairman, Mount Zion Metropolitan Ministries, Inc.

With the goal of providing maximum opportunity for existing and potential property owners to participate in the revitalization process and to ensure that redevelopment is done in keeping with the land-use strategies for the Corridor, the Design Assistance

Program provides professional design assistance at no charge for individual property owners in the areas of façade improvement, site planning, and property redevelopment.

To aid the property or business owner in bringing their vision to fruition, the program also provides each applicant with assistance in navigating and expediting the development review process, securing the necessary financing to complete the project, and securing tenants for the property.

Vital to the success of this program are the many City and community partners that

participate in ensuring that the project meets the various permitting processes and that each applicant is provided assistance and guidance in the redevelopment process.

The Program is funded with general funds through the City of Savannah. To aid in

project implementation, a number of loan and grant programs are available through

SDRA, the City, and the Small Business Assistance Corporation and Accion. Over the years, SDRA's Façade Improvement Loan Program has leveraged $1,082,6078 in public loan funds to improve 51 properties within the Broughton Street Urban Redevelopment Area and along the MLK and Montgomery Corridor.

These funds have directly leveraged a private investment of more than $14 million.

Any commercial property owner or faith-based institution is eligible to participate in the

Design Assistance Program so long as their property is located within the MLK and Montgomery Urban Redevelopment Area. The Corridor's business owners are also

eligible to participate in the program provided that they have obtained written approval from their respective property owners.

Serving as a catalyst for continued and increased investment, this innovative program has provided professional design assistance at no cost to 18 property owners for 20 properties along the Corridor. Currently, four additional projects are completing their participation in the Program; and three new projects are scheduled to begin the process in the fourth quarter of 2008.

These factors continue to play a critical role removing blight and in restoring the architectural, social, and economic vitality of this historic corridor.