BUSINESS/STORE B1* B2 B3 B4 B5*
restaurant
Art Lab Pennysaver Food Mart Billy's Beverage CEnter IT$ AMAZING Beauty Center JB's Capricorn I Audio/Video Sales & Rentals B6* A Buck Plus B7 Best for Less Appliance and Repair B8 Chu's Market Meat & Seafood
Promoting local cultural identity, Changing perceptions, and Revitalizing the commercial corridor Waters Avenue is more than just a street - it is a community that encompasses all aspects of life. Waters has developed as a secondary Main Street within the city of Savannah and is a currently a corridor for business residences, and culture. Although parts of this diverse street have vibrancy, a large portion of the street is in need of more people, businesses, and activity. The section of Waters Avenue north of Victory Drive and south of Gwinnett Street has a great amount of historic and vacant commercial properties. The neighborhood currently has several active residents and businesses, but also has a high amount of vacant or demolished commercial properties, which signal that the commercial corridor is in distress. Because of these qualities, this target area has been studied for potential revitalization strategies that will return the street back to the bustling commercial center that it once was. Unlike many parts of downtown Savannah, which has higher rents and more businesses that cater to tourists, Waters Avenue is truly a local destination. As the neighborhood is revitalized, it will be important to keep the street local and incorporate the people who currently live and reside in the area, while bringing in additional businesses to fill the vacant commercial spaces in between.
R1 R2 R3* R4 R5* R6*
religous
Lisa’s Chinese Takeout Kennedy Fried Chicken Grandma’s Diner Lisa’s Chinese Takeout The Kickback Barakas Homestyle Soul and Seafood
WATERS AVENUE
C1 C2 C3 C4* C5 C6 C7 C8
Faith Hope Charity in Christ Bahai Unity Center Jesus Is The Answer Ministry Open Door Holy Deliverance Church Metro Savannah Baptist Church Bible & Prayer Ministries Holy Zion Holiness Church Asbury Memorial United Methodist Church C9 St. Thomas Missionary Baptist Church
ott
Live OaK
cat bus stop
c1
gwinnett
O3
N
C9
C8
B7
Community involvement is vital for a successful neighborhood revitalization. There are currently organizations in place for the stakeholder groups in the target area. The Waters Avenue Business Association is a force for the business stakeholders, while the many neighborhood associations along the street are a force for residential stakeholders. Setting up occasional meetings between the city and these organizations will be important to ensure that the wants and needs of the community are taken into consideration. Establishing an online forum can also be a way to reach out to the voices of younger generations or people who cannot attend scheduled meetings.
E2 R6* B5* S6* C7 C6 C5 B4 R4
Number of active businesses listed in Savannah city directory
SPECIAL EVENTS
Utilizing a special event could be a way to showcase the positive aspects of Waters, attract curious Savannahians, and change people’s perceptions about the area. An infrequent event, perhaps occurring every other month, coudl showcase local culture in the form of food, music and arts. These cultural assets are already available, and bringing them together for a special event every night in a few months could help to spark more interest in the neighborhood. The event could also temporarily activate empty lots on the street. One plot of lant at the corner of Waters and Anderson could be an idea place to set up booths for information, food, artists or other local vendors.
B6*
COMMUNITY MARKET
S8 S7
This plot of vacant city-owned land could also be utilized for an occasional, temporary community market. The market could have many positive impacts. It could bring nutritional foods to an area that currently lacks a full grocery store. The market could also be an incubator for local entrepreneurs who cannot initially afford rent of a commercial space. Site visits to Waters Avenue have shown that informal, open-air commercial activities are common along the street. Providing a centralized space for these activities to happen could help to revitalize the street.
R5* S5* E1* S4
B3
URBAN DESIGN IMPROVEMENTS
R3*
The city has funded streetscape improvements to build ornamental lighting, brick sidewalks, and pedestrian crosswalks. The projects are not yet underway, but will make vast improvements to the commercial corridor. Increasing connectivity to the street could also make improvements that will bring more people. Additional shade shelters and benches at bus stops would make riding the bus along Waters more pleasant. Installing bike racks and bike lanes could also help to accommodate cyclists and bring more customers to the street.
90 R2 b2
80 70
R4
60
C3
50
b1*
40
C1
30 20 10 0
1920
1930
1940
1950
1960 Year
1970
1980
1990
2000
2010
residential/other
B8
S9
Active Businesses on Waters Avenue, 1913-2010, as listed in city directories
unused potential commercial
INCREASE COMMUNICATION
Anderson
37th
religious/community
S10
O1
Becuase of Waters Avenue’s location away from Savannah’s downtown, people didn’t settle the area until streetcar lines were introduced in the late 1800s. Although the streetcar lines brought initial residents and a few businesses, Waters Avenue was not heavily commercialized until the automobile became popular as a form of travel. Historical photographs show many early examples of car-centric businesses and architecture, as well as traditional walk-up commercial spaces that front the road. Historical business directories show that business in the target area grew slowly at the beginning of the 20th century, and then grew exponentially during the 1930s and 1940s. The number of businesses peaked during the 1950s and have been in a constant decline for over 60 years, as a result of the expansion of suburbs further to the south and east.
indexed building
c3* business with handpainted sign
Henry
Unique hand-painted signs are seen on businesses throughout the target area on Waters. These colorful signs are a vernacular art form that largely disappeared in cities by the 1950s and 1960s. The tradition is still alive and well along Waters Avenue, with new handpainted signs coexisting with older examples.
Waters Law Office Lester Branch Property Management Waters Auto Repair Center Corner Shop (gas station) Boyz in da Hood Car Wash Savannah Barber/Styling Institute Braddy Electric Braddy Signs Discount Muffler & Auto Repair Service Best Cleaners & Laundry New Prestige Barber Shop Shell Gas Station
site boundary
O2
The Waters Avenue corridor has many architecturally significant buildings. There is a high concentration of early 20th century commercial buildings, including those in the art deco and streamline moderne styles. Unfortunately, many of the buildings are vacant and in various states of disrepair.
S1 E1* Rosette Lounge E2 Carey’s Jazz & Blues Lounge S2 S3 S4 Other S5* O1 Historic Romana Riley S6* Elementary (empty) S7 O2 Best Academy (Preschool) S8 O3 Amalgamated Transit Union S9 S10 S11* S12
Business or Service
S11*
Today, there are many Savannahians who do not visit Waters Avenue because of preconceived notions. The target area of the street often has the reputation of being impoverished and dangerous, but this is not necessarily true. The income levels along the street vary, with two sections of the neighborhood, showed in the map in a darker shade of purple, having incomes above $45,000/year, which is well above the city average. The northern end of the area has lower incomes, with the lowest being just above $15,000/year. Crime is present along Waters Avenue, which is true of most urban places in the United States. However, a crime density map of the city shows that Waters is much safer than other parts of the city. The target area is a mixture of blue and green, with the red crime hotspots being located downtown and in the Metropolitan neighborhood.
SERVICES
entertainment
s3 s2 C4*
C2 s1 s12
victory
Daffin Park
$ $$
INCREASE FUNDING
These improvements could help revitalize the neighborhood, but are not possible without capital. The city of Savannah’s budget is limited, so reaching out for additional funding will be important. National Register Historic Districts surround the street, but most of the target area does not lie within one and are therefore not eligible for the federal historic tax credits. Creating a National Register district would incentivize outside development to rehabilitate commercial spaces. Reaching out to the Historic Savannah Foundation to consider using their revolving fund for commercial properties on Waters Avenue would also be beneficial.
Davis Allen - Downtown Revitalization HIPR 425 - Prof. Jong Hyun Lim - Winter 2015