Davenport House, Savannah
There is no other city like Savannah, Georgia. Only there can you walk from the port on cobblestone streets to charming squares with live oaks dripping with Spanish moss and beautiful fountains surrounded by mansions. Like Savannah, Saratoga Springs is distinctive. General James Edward Oglethorpe laid out Savannah with its distinctive squares. Gideon Putman laid out Saratoga Springs with its broad streets and refreshing springs at its center. Both communities have drawn visitors for centuries. Both suffered economic downturns and were faced the potential loss of its history and architecture. Like Savannah, Saratoga Springs recognized the value of its history and architecture and made an effort to preserve it. Thanks to those efforts, both communities continue to draw visitors, residents and businesses.
On Monday, September 28th of 2015, the Saratoga Springs Preservation Foundation, in partnership with the City of Saratoga Springs, hosted a community presentation “Savannah: The Value of Preservation” by Daniel Carey, President and CEO of Historic Savannah Foundation, and Ellen Harris, Director of Urban Planning and Historic Preservation at Chatham County-Savannah Metropolitan Planning Commission as a part of an educational series funded by a Certified Local Government Grant of the New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation.
East Broughton Street, Downtown Savannah
Daniel Carey and Ellen Harris shared the importance of retaining the original character of these districts and the value that these districts create for Savannah’s economy. Heritage tourism – the traveling to experience the places that authentically represent the past and present – is an important source of income, jobs, and tax revenue for Savannah much like Saratoga Springs. People come to Savannah to experience its unique history – visiting museums, walking its historic neighborhoods, and enjoying its squares. The same reason people come to Saratoga Springs – Where else can you experience the spring waters that have been enjoyed for centuries by visitors or go to a race course that transports one back in time? Both Savannah and Saratoga Springs offer authentic experiences. Repeated studies have shown that the heritage tourism traveler spends more, stay longer, and attend more cultural events than the average tourist.
Broadway Street, Saratoga Springs
However, heritage tourism was not the primary focus of a recent economic impact study by the Historic Savannah Foundation. “We want to share the broad impact of historic preservation has on the quality of life and economy – distinct from tourism – because it is often lost and deserves respect,” said Carey. He went on to say, “One doesn’t have to necessarily love or appreciate history, but it is important to recognize the broad impacts of preservation has made on the community and continues to make.”
Like Savannah, Saratoga Springs has several historic neighborhoods that are listed on the National Register of Historic Places. While many may think that this designation restricts what an owner can do to their property – it does not. The designation is mainly honorary and determines which properties are eligible for federal rehabilitation tax credits.
Like Savannah, Saratoga Springs determined that it was necessary to further protect these neighborhoods by designating a local historic district. It is the local historic district that affords the greatest protection from insensitive changes to a building, demolition, and inappropriate new development. The review of projects is under the purview of the City of Saratoga Springs Design Review Commission.
Old Port District, Savannah
Thoughtful analysis demonstrates that Savannah’s historic districts have been a magnet for investment. While preservation ordinances in Savannah are in place to protect the quality and character of a neighborhood long into the future, it does not mean that change cannot take place. Over the past seven years, more has been invested in additions and new construction within Savannah’s historic districts than rehabilitation. In total $3.8 billion has been invested.
Not only is money invested, but jobs are created. One million dollars spent on rehabilitation of a Savannah historic building will result in 1.2 more jobs and $62,000 more in income for Georgia citizens than the same amount spent on new construction. Over the past 13 years, federal rehabilitation tax credit projects alone have resulted in an average of 169 jobs each year. If tax credit rehabilitation projects were considered a single industry employing over 160 workers with an annual payroll of $7.5 million, it would be among the largest 2% of all firms in the county. Currently in Saratoga Springs, there are four active federal tax rehabilitation projects – the Algonquin, Adelphi Hotel, Woodlawn Row Houses and Universal Preservation Hall. Each project results in jobs and income for our community.
Oglethorpe Monument within Chippewah Square
In addition, the study showed that historic districts attract not only residents and visitors, but also attract businesses and their employees. For example, 58% of start-up firms chose to locate in a historic district. Why do those firms and others choose to live and work in historic districts? The study attributed people liking historic neighborhoods because they are at a human-scale and are walkable to stores, other businesses, and parks – providing for a high quality of life, which is not much unlike Saratoga Springs.
The values of properties in historic districts of Savannah also outperformed the market, with rates of appreciation of averaging slightly over 50% over the past fifteen years. During times of the national economic decline during 2007, properties in historic districts declined later and recovered quicker than those properties outside a historic district. An increase in property values has also resulted in increased income for the City of Savannah, Chatham County, and the local school district – providing the ability to hire teachers, make street improvements, and provide police protection.
Daniel and Ellen provided an opportunity for our community to learn about historic preservation in Savannah, but also an opportunity to appreciate the value of historic preservation in our own community. Saratoga Springs is now lucky enough to have its own Economic Impact Study, which can be viewed here.
Founded in 1977, the Saratoga Springs Preservation Foundation is a private, not-for-profit organization that promotes preservation and enhancement of the architectural, cultural and landscaped heritage of Saratoga Springs.