Savannah

Savannah Georgia, a photo by swampzoid on Flickr.

Community garden in Savannah

Local TV news report on a community garden on Savannah’s MLK:

The garden started in the 90s and since then it’s gone through several transformations but through it all one thing has remained and that’s that anybody is welcome.

“It’s really open to anyone who is interested in putting some seeds in the ground and nurturing those plants along and partaking in the harvest,” explains Gardener Barbara Eaton.

Eaton loves spending time in the Martin Luther King Boulevard garden.

“I saw the archway and the fence and plants and plants growing so I was immediately attracted to it,” explains Eaton.

She’s also gotten teenagers from the Metropolitan Community involved… it’s not a glamorous job but the area kids enjoy it.

More, including video, here.

Odd squabble around community garden in Savannah

Community group tries to clean up space on Savannah’s MLK; owner writes local paper complaining.

Eh?

In any case this article ends (and this one) with suggestion that perhaps there will be progress after all. Savannah volunteers can contact: The Root Down Community G(art)den at rootdowncommunitygarden@gmail.com

Savannah

Ice Cream, originally uploaded by R. Walker.

Anytime, originally uploaded by R. Walker.

SAV

32 mlk, originally uploaded by pete gardner.

At River Street

River St. at MLK – Savannah, GA 2008, originally uploaded by The Powers.

SAV

mlk, originally uploaded by The Powers.

In Savannah, GA.

More Savannah

Crites Hall, originally uploaded by R. Walker.

Wednesday morning I had the nice opportunity to chat with students (mostly architectures majors) taking a class in “Writing About Place,” at the Savannah College of Art & Design, about the Letters from New Orleans book — and about this very project. It was an interesting discussion about MLKs in general, the various aspects of MLK the icon, what the street “means” in various places, and the history and current development of MLK in Savannah. (The interesting observations of course came from the students, who were from all over the place, and had things to say about wherever they were from in addition to their views about Savannah.)

As it happens, the classroom was itself on Savannah’s MLK. See above. Crites Hall apparently dates to 1905, and, as was pointed out to me when I asked, the building was at one time a dry-goods store (Frank & Co.) as the faded paint along the side makes clear.

The portion of MLK in Savannah that’s north of the so-called “I-16 flyover” is generally more developed than the southern section of the street. Apart from some SCAD buildings, other entities on this strip include several fast-food restaurants, and a couple of hotels. Plus, a few of the businesses that were mentioned in some of the recent local press coverage of development debates.

Wednesday night I stopped by the unveiling of the proposed “master plan” for downtown Savannah, which includes a section of MLK. Between that meeting and the related press coverage, a few bits of (reported & alleged) information. Those bits, plus a smattering of other photos, after the jump. More recent MLK shots, all from this northern stretch of the street, added to this Savannah MLK set.

My thanks to writer and SCAD professor James Edward Lough and his students for some good conversation.

Mixed news in Savannah

A Savannah Morning News front-pager today focuses on the issues of redeveloping the city’s MLK.

The street, once a center of African-American business and activity, was badly undermined by an interstate extension in the 1960s, when it was still known as West Broad. It was renamed in 1990, and in 1996, city-directed redevelopment efforts began.

Since 2001, 74 new black-owned businesses have opened and continue to operate in the corridor.

Property values also have gone up. In December 2000, commercial properties in the corridor were valued at $75.9 million. As of 2005, those same properties were worth $209.4 million.

The downside is that as values have gone up, so have rents and leases. Businesses have to make more money to keep up, and many former residents simply cannot afford to live on MLK now.

Also: In typical SMN fashion, an interesting piece of news that to my knowledge had never been reported is slipped in toward the end of the piece, in a mysterious and inconclusive fashion:

The 514 West restaurant, a flagship of the Renewal Authority’s revitalization efforts, has shut down, owing at least $58,000 in unpaid state sales and withholding taxes.

It is unclear when or if the restaurant will reopen.

It also is unclear whether the restaurant’s financial troubles stem from its location or other factors. Co-owner Eddie Williams could not be reached for comment.

This is the restaurant outside of which the recent ceremony honoring King Oliver was held. A plaque in tribute to Oliver was mounted on the side of the restaurant. The paper ran several stories about the event.

So, the full facts on this matter would be nice.

Mr. Marsalis

 

“Mr. Marsalis,” originally uploaded by R. Walker.

The only way this counts as an interesting picture is if you use Andy Warhol’s definition of a successful photograph: In focus, and of someone famous. Wynton Marsalis, performing here in Savannah tonight as part of a local music festival, spoke at a brief ceremony for the unveiling of a plaque in honor of King Oliver, who died here. The event was at 514 MLK Blvd. — which used to be West Broad Street, and, apparently, was the center of jazz activity here at one time. This is what I gathered at the presentation, anyway. A number of older local musicians were on hand. I have to say, Marsalis was impressively gracious. Plus he wore an excellent suit.