Greg Parker Partners to Transform Savannah’s ‘Ugliest’ Buildings as Part of ‘Legacy Project’
In an audacious move, Savannah’s entrepreneur Greg Parker and his partner Zach Riddle have resolved to turn two of Savannah’s plainest buildings into an architectural marvel. The buildings located at 33 Bull St. will be transformed into a structure that the city can take pride in. The buildings were purchased by 33 Bull Street LLC & 4 Triple Eight LLC for over $18 million in December 2023, according to property records.
Parker-Riddle Consortium’s Vision for Savannah
“This is one of the ugliest buildings in Savannah,” Parker, the founder, and CEO of Parker’s said. “Clearly we’re trying to do something that is great for Savannah that will be a legacy project.” This ambitious project involves substantial alterations to the office building fronting Johnson Square and the linked parking garage fronting Broughton Street.
Architectural Enhancements: Aesthetic and Practical
The proposed design changes, authorized by the Historic District Board of Review, involve significant architectural enhancements to the existing structures. These changes entail constructing archways and columns under the dilapidating brick overhangs along with handcrafted copper cornices. Moreover, the superstore “rhythm” on Broughton will be improved, and a “reborn” restaurant space is planned for the corner facing Johnson Square, as explained by the project’s architect, Christian Sottile.
The proposed alterations would involve painting the current dull, dark bricks an oyster white to blend in more harmoniously with the neighboring buildings. Other changes involve improving the skybridge over West Congress Lane that links the buildings. It will be opened up as a covered breezeway with more detailed designs to make it more appealing.
Support and Critique from Savannah’s Institutions
The proposed alterations received endorsements from representatives of the Historic Savannah Foundation and Downtown Neighborhood Association. “The design and use of materials significantly enhance these buildings for the next chapter of their life and, in turn, enhance both the Bull Street and Broughton Street corridors and the Johnson Square landscape,” noted Ellie Isaacs, HSF’s director of Preservation & Historic Properties.
However, the Oglethorpe Plan Coalition founder Andrew Jones expressed reservations about the proposed awnings on Broughton Street being “obscenely big” and potentially obscuring some of the building’s features.
Impending Projects
Regardless of the controversy, the vision for the buildings is largely welcomed. The vision for the buildings is largely welcomed, “It’s just going to have such a tremendous impact on the area in a positive way,” said Michael Higgins, a review board member. Although, the owners will need to finalize pricing and permits before determining an exact timeline for the project.
In addition to this, Parker announced to the review board his intention to come back in a few years with plans for renovating the Region Bank building across Johnson Square. “I think Johnson Square is re-evolving,” he concluded. “It’s going to be the most important square in Savannah.”
