Savannah City Council today voted 6-3 in favor of a controversial compromise plan that would save about 20 percent of the historic Seaboard Freight Station from demolition.
The so-called "head house," or office space, would be preserved and moved to one corner of the new Gateway Project at 703 Louisville Rd.
The warehouse section would be demolished as originally planned.
The plan originally called for the demolition of the entire historic train depot to be replaced by a seven-story luxury apartment complex, the first major private investment in the new "Canal District."
Alderpersons Johnson, Thomas and Shabazz voted in dissent.
Mayor DeLoach said when public outcry spread about the demolition, he called project architect Pat Shay and said, "What we had planned for here and what is planned now are two different things."
DeLoach said that after the conversation and some changes to the general development plan, "we've got a direction to go in."
Alderman Brian Foster said of developer WEDP, "They came back with a new proposal that I think is going to be positively received. We feel like they have listened."
Alderman Van Johnson, however, wanted to clarify for the public that only about 20 percent of the entire structure would be preserved under the new plan.…
The so-called "head house," or office space, would be preserved and moved to one corner of the new Gateway Project at 703 Louisville Rd.
The warehouse section would be demolished as originally planned.
The plan originally called for the demolition of the entire historic train depot to be replaced by a seven-story luxury apartment complex, the first major private investment in the new "Canal District."
Alderpersons Johnson, Thomas and Shabazz voted in dissent.
Mayor DeLoach said when public outcry spread about the demolition, he called project architect Pat Shay and said, "What we had planned for here and what is planned now are two different things."
DeLoach said that after the conversation and some changes to the general development plan, "we've got a direction to go in."
Alderman Brian Foster said of developer WEDP, "They came back with a new proposal that I think is going to be positively received. We feel like they have listened."
Alderman Van Johnson, however, wanted to clarify for the public that only about 20 percent of the entire structure would be preserved under the new plan.…
