66 Reasons Savannah is HOT
Savannah's population Boom, with 9% growth ...making Savannah in the top 100 growth areas in the country. Surrounding counties have hit 26 to 30% growth. Keys to the future. Compiled by Stephen Sacco
A profile of projects around the Coastal Empire
1. Savannah River Landing - An $800-million project
that will extend Savannah's riverfront walk and fit in with the city's master civic plan that will more than double the historic downtown area, while keeping the charm and beauty of General James Oglethorpe's plan for the city.
Plans include homes, a luxury hotel, a boutique hotel and streets of world-class retail space. In addition, restaurants and office space will create a new social center along the river. Savannah River Landing will feature new construction with the latest technological features and amenities. Water taxis are planned and will be available to take people from the mainland to Hutchinson Island. For information, go to the Web site www.savannahriverlanding .com.
2. Hutchinson Island Development - The civic master plan for Hutchinson Island takes some inspiration from Savannah's civic master plan for downtown. Hutchinson is already home to The Savannah International Trade and Convention Center and The Westin Savannah Harbor Golf Resort & Spa. New development on the 200-acre island is planned to begin on Parcel 7, which is 13 acres of upland and 7 acres of water, just west of the Trade Center.
There are plans for hotels, housing and a framework for future growth. The island may also be the future home to a destination restaurant, ecotourism and a music venue. The philosophy for the Hutchinson Island is defined clearly by its developers: "The street and block plan organizes the site, provides public access to the waterfront, respects view corridors, improves circulation across the island, and creates blocks to accommodate a range of uses and open spaces." It is the basis for the official mapping of streets, parks, and other public spaces that will shape the public realm on Hutchinson Island.
3. Georgia Ports Authority/The Port of Savannah's Garden City Terminal - Savannah's port is now the second largest for container traffic on the East Coast and fourth largest in the nation. The port growth has spurred warehouse development and distribution facilities in the area, most notably by companies including Home Depot, Target and IKEA.
The port is owned and operated by the Georgia Ports Authority, which boasts that this port includes the industry's only Client Relations Center.
According to the Georgia Ports Authority "The facility's single-terminal design allows the port to operate in an environment of maximum efficiency and flexibility, as well as increased security, due to the concentration of all manpower, technology and equipment in one massive container operation." The authority says its representatives are versed in the unique requirements of international trade and investment, and its labor force comes from one of the top-six fastest growing populations in the nation. For information, go to www. gaports .com/.
4. Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD) - Many people credit the Savannah College of Art and Design for beginning the revitalization of historic downtown Savannah. In 2003, Kaplan/Newsweek chose SCAD as a "hidden gem" and in 2006 the national survey rated SCAD the hottest college to study art in the country. The school's three locations and online programs attract students from all 50 states and more than 80 countries. In 2006, roughly 2,500 undergraduate and graduate students were enrolled.
The college sponsors cultural events like the Savannah Film Festival, which last year paid homage to actor Tommy Lee Jones, and the Sidewalk Arts Festival in April. According to its official bio SCAD was founded in Savannahin 1978 "with a curriculum designed to provide an excellent arts education and effective career preparation for students."
SCAD's goal is to prepare talented students for careers in the visual and performing arts, design, the building arts, and the history of art and architecture. The college emphasizes learning through individual attention in a positively oriented environment. For information, go to www . scad. edu/.
5. Armstrong Atlantic State University - Armstrong was founded in 1935 as Armstrong Junior College and has since become a part of the University System of Georgia. The university awarded over 900 degrees for the 2005-2006 academic year.
The school serves more than 6,700 students of all ages. Forty-three percent are from the Savannah-Chatham County area. Others come from throughout Georgia, the nation, and more than 70 countries. For information, go to www. armstrong .edu/.
6. Savannah State University - Savannah State University's motto is, "You can get anywhere from here." It is the oldest historically black college in Georgia. It was founded in 1890 as a state land-grant institution.
The university enrolls 2,500 students, many of whom come from Georgia, with a growing number from out of state and abroad, The Board of Regents of the University System of Georgia states. Students may choose from 26 undergraduate and graduate degree programs offered through the colleges of Business Administration, Liberal Arts and Social Sciences and Sciences and Technology. For information, go to www. savstate .edu/.
7. University of Phoenix-Savannah Campus - The University of Phoenix specializes in adult education and is known nationally for its online courses. Roughly 200,000 students are registered for classes nationwide.
Established in 1970, the university now has a Savannah campus. For information, go to www. phoenix .edu/.
8. Georgia Institute of Technology Savannah Campus - One of the top research universities in the country has a campus on Savannah's west side. The campus was established to serve the area's growing knowledge-based businesses, aerospace and other industries. A convergence of art and technology has led to Savannah's emerging identity as The Creative Coast.
There are currently 125 undergraduates (juniors and seniors only) and 45 graduate students enrolled at the Savannah campus. Those numbers are expected to grow. Georgia Tech Savannah occupies a 46-acre tract within Savannah's Technology and Engineering Campus. Only minutes from downtown, the campus is bordered by natural wetlands and is home to a number of native plant and animal species, including coyotes, foxes, and deer. Distributed across three buildings, the campus supports a bookstore, café, library, student lounges and study rooms, distance-capable classrooms, and more than 30 instructional and research laboratories. For information, go to www .gtsav .gatech .edu/.
9. South University - South University's Savannah campus is home to the School of Business, School of Health Professions, and School of Pharmacy, the South University's Web site states. There are 3,500-plus registered students in the Savannah area, including those taking online courses. For information, go to ww .southuniversity .edu/campus/Savannah.
10. Savannah Technical College - Savannah Tech is an important part of the educational infrastructure in the area. The college often partners with business to offer Georgia Quick Start training that fit the needs of employers and job seekers alike. It currently serves roughly 4,000 students. Among the many programs the college offers, the most popular are nursing, hospitality, culinary arts and air conditioning. For information, go to www. savannahtech.edu/.
11. Live Oak Public Libraries/Library Business Center - The Live Oak Public Libraries serve Chatham, Effingham and Liberty counties with 19 branches.
Its main branch, located on Bull Street in Savannah, is home to the Business Resource Center, which provides assistance and information from books, publications and online databases to persons starting a business. In addition, existing businesses can request assistance for research on management and marketing issues.
The Live Oak Public Libraries has programs geared towards children and people of all ages. For information, go to www. liveoakpl.org/.
12. Memorial Health University Medical Center/ William and Iffath Hoskins Center for Biomedical Research - The medical institution serves 35 counties in southeast Georgia and southern South Carolina. Facilities include: Memorial Health University Medical Center, a 530-bed tertiary medical center; CareOne, a two-state home care division; Memorial Health University Physicians, a primary and specialty care physician networks; a major medical education program; NurseOne, a 24-hour call center; and an affiliation with Mercer University School of Medicine that will soon become a four-year medical program.
The William and Iffath Hoskins Center for Biomedical Research is a 60,000-square-foot, state-of-the-art cancer research and education facility designed for medical and translational research. Translational or "bench to bedside" research allows scientists and physicians to work together to quickly translate laboratory findings into new cancer treatments or prevention techniques. To learn more, visit www. memorialhealth.com/.
13. St. Joseph/Candler - St. Joseph's/Candler of Savannah, Georgia is comprised of St. Joseph's Hospital and Candler Hospital, two of the oldest continuously operating hospitals in the United States. It is the only faith-based facility in Savannah. It provides services including cardiology, oncology, digestive diseases, neurosensory disorders, orthopedics, women's and children's services and diabetes. Mary Telfair Women's Hospital and the J.C. Lewis Cancer Center are located there. For information, go to www.sjchs.org/.
14. Georgia Power - The electricity demands of the Savannah area are served by Georgia Power, the largest of five electric utilities that make up Southern Company. Georgia Power is an investor-owned, tax-paying utility that serves over 2.3 million customers in all but four of Georgia's 159 counties. Georgia Power has approximately 9,278 employees throughout the state, 400 of which work in coastal Georgia. It also has 267,252 customers across the 15-county coastal region, according to Georgia Power.
15. AT&T/BellSouth - There are more than 33,000 miles of fiber optic cable coursing under cobblestone streets, enabling high-speed connectivity just about everywhere. Savannah ranks as the second largest market in Georgia and has the second largest fiber deployment in the state. Telecom companies have invested heavily in infrastructure in the city and Savannah has additional local carriers that ensure competitive rates. Savannah has eight POPs (Points of Presence) and 125 exchange carriers as well as an ISDN switch, ATM, and ASL, according to the Savannah Economic Development Authority.
16. Gulfstream Aerospace - Luxury business jet manufacturer Gulfstream Aerospace announced in March 2006 that it would invest $300 million to expand its manufacturing and service facilities in Savannah, adding at least 1,100 new jobs over the next seven months. Gulfstream also opened a new research facility at Crossroads Business Park designed to accommodate some 750 engineers, some of whom may be working on what could be the first supersonic business jet, according to the Savannah Morning News. The company currently employs roughly 5,000 people in the area.
17. Georgia-Pacific Corp. - Georgia-Pacific is one of the major employers in Savannah, providing jobs for roughly 1,420 people in the area, according to the development authority. In 2005, the company's board approved capital funding of more than $100 million for the expansion of the Savannah gypsum facility. This expansion will support the growing, proprietary Dens product lines, a moisture-resistant technology that helps prevent mold, as well as its overall ToughRock® gypsum (wallboard) business. The project is expected to double production at the Savannah facility and is expected to be completed in 2007, according to Georgia-Pacific.
18. International Paper - Located in Chatham County on the Savannah River, the Savannah mill resides on a 450-acre site and produces unbleached kraft linerboard, corrugating medium, and saturating kraft paper. The Savannah mill has three paper machines, with one machine dedicated to making saturating kraft. In 1991, after celebrating the mill's 50th anniversary, International Paper embarked upon an extensive construction project which included a new wood chipping line, Kamyr digester, lime kiln and a new high speed linerboard/paper machine, which produces up to 500,000 tons/year of linerboard. The company employs roughly 1,027 people in the area, according to the development authority.
International Paper has been involved in a number of land developments in the area. Its most recent project is New Hampstead, see number 60.
19. JCB Inc. - The construction and agricultural equipment manufacturer has located its North American headquarters alongside Interstate 95 in Pooler. You can't miss the lake and display of machines when driving by JCB.
Its 500.000 square-foot, state-of-the art facility cost $62 million and is part of a $100-million investment by JCB as the company gears up to achieve a significant share of what is the world's largest market for its products. Trivia: The plant's address is 2000 Bamford Blvd.; the road was named after JCB founder Joseph Cyril Bamford by the City of Pooler.
20. Savannah Morning News - Savannah's daily paper of record and "Light of the Coastal Empire and Lowcountry" serves readers across southeast Georgia and lower South Carolina. Morris Communication Company, LLC, owns the paper. In its new location on Chatham Parkway, the SMN produces a variety of publications including Savannah Magazine and Bluffton Today. In the past year, it has expanded to serve neighboring counties more fully with the thrice-weekly Effingham Now and the weekly Bryan County Now newspapers. The company recently began installation of a new press to be completed in late 2007. For information, go to www. savannahnow.com.
21. Hunter Army Airfield - The mid-Savannah installation is considered a part of Fort Stewart, which is located outside of Hinesville, Ga., roughly 45 miles from Savannah. The U.S. Army estimtes that these posts have an economic impact on the region of roughly $1.5 billion. Fort Stewart, home of the 3rd Infantry Division has approximately 20,000 service members stationed there. Hunter Army Airfield has approximately 6,000 service members stationed at the post.
22. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers - The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is a strong presence in Savannah and has worked on various projects in the region, including the expansion of the Savannah Harbor. A regulator branch, a construction division and an emergency management division are among the units that carry out their different responsibilities in the area. The facilities can house up to 300 corps members, if necessary.
23. Benedetto LLP - Benedetto guitar makers work their magic and craft in a 9,000-square-foot building just off Mall Boulevard.
"What Bob Benedetto and his team of craftsmen can do with a block of wood is nothing short of amazing," Mary Carr Mayle, of the Savannah Morning news, wrote.
Robert Benedetto was born in 1946 into a family of artists, cabinet makers and musicians in the Bronx, N.Y. He made his first archtop guitar in 1968. For the next 30 years, he specialized in handcrafting custom archtop guitars for some of the best jazz musicians in the country, including master jazz guitarist John "Bucky" Pizzarelli. In 2005, Pizzarelli donated one of his famous seven-string Benedetto archtops to the Smithsonian's National Museum of American History.
Benedetto was associated with Fender Guitars from 1998 until last year, when he made the decision to begin his own firm, with headquarters, manufacturing and design operations in Savannah, according to the Morning News. Having just opened in July of 2006, Benedetto employs 12 people but plans to employ 50 to 75 people in the future.
24. Fred Gretsch Enterprises - The maker of high-end guitars and drums used by the likes of U2's Bono and Bo Diddley have made Pooler the home of its business headquarters.
25. Telfair Museum of Art/Jepson Center for the Arts - Telfair now boasts three diverse sites - the Telfair Academy of Arts and Sciences, the original building; Owens-Thomas House; and the recently completed Jepson Center for the Arts, a contemporary building which houses 20th- and 21st-century art. The older buildings are National Historic Landmarks and the newest is a landmark of a different kind on Telfair Square.
Jepson Center for the Arts is a state-of-the-art museum facility with expanded gallery spaces and educational resources, art storage facilities, sculpture gardens, an auditorium, café and museum store. For information, go to www. telfair.org/.
26. Savannah Yacht Club - This Wilmington Island club has been serving members since 1869.
27. Wormsloe Historic Site - Wormsloe is a Georgia State Historic Site. Noble Jones, one of Georgia's first settlers, constructed Wormsloe colonial estate in the 18th century. Jones was an English physician and carpenter who carved an even wider career in the colonial wilderness. He came to Savannah with James Oglethorpe in 1733 and commanded a company of Marines charged with Georgia's coastal defense. Jones served as constable, Indian agent, surveyor (laying out New Ebenezer and Augusta) and member of the Royal Council. He was also one of few original settlers to survive hunger, plague, attacks, Spaniards and a new environment, according to the Georgia State Parks Web site. For information, go to gastateparks. org/info/wormsloe/.
28. The Savannah/Hilton Head International Airport - In 2006, the airport played host to nearly 2 million passengers and over 10 thousands tons of cargo. The airport has an average of over 40 flights per day.
29. Savannah Historic District - At 52 acres, in the heart of downtown Savannah is one of the largest historic districts in the United States. The story goes that during the Civil War it was so beautiful that even Union Gen. William Tecumseh Sherman didn't have the heart to burn it down.
30. Tybee Island - The small island municipality has a population of just over 3,000 and has long been a getaway for the Savannah residents and has become a popular vacation spot for tourists from all over the world.
31. Forsyth Park - Forsyth was the first large park created in Savannah, other than the squares, designed as part of the city plan by General Oglethorpe in the 18th century. The park is notable for its ornate fountain and tree-lined walking paths.
32. Mighty Eighth Air Force Museum - Located in Pooler, this museum is dedicated to preserving the memory of the Mighty Eighth Air Force from World War II to the present. For information, go to www.mighty eighth.org/.
33. Fort Pulaski National Monument - Located near Tybee Island, the National Park Service runs Fort Pulaski, which once provided security for the mouth of the Savannah River.
The battle for Fort Pulaski in April 1862 marked a turning point in military history. It featured the first significant use of rifled cannons in combat. These accurate, long-range weapons shattered Fort Pulaski's walls from over a mile away. After 30 hours of bombardment, the fort surrendered. The battle surprised military strategists worldwide and signaled the end of masonry fortifications.
34. The Mega Site/Chatham County Economic Development Site - The 1,500-acre mega site in Pooler, sometimes referred to as the Chatham County Economic Development Site, has been named the leading site among 20 similar sites in an 11-state Southeast region. KPMG, the international advisory firm that conducted the study, called the site, "an excellent industrial or corporate campus property."
35. NorthPort (Solutions Property Group) Industrial Site - This site contains 576,000 square feet of warehouse/distribution space to be completed in July and roughly 305 acres of proposed industrial projects, according to the Savannah Economic Development Authority.
36. WestPort (Solution Property Group) Industrial Site - Development is still underway for this site that totals 752,000 square feet with over 400,000 square feet of proposed industrial projects, according to SEDA.
37. Crossgate (Solutions Property Group) Industrial Site - Development plans for this 344-acre site are still underway. There are currently nine proposed industrial buildings that would total more than 300 acres of industrial space if completed, according to SEDA.
38. Savannah River International Trade Park (Georgia Port Authority) Industrial Site - This site totals over 400 acres. Plans for this site continue, according to development authority.
39. Monteith Road Development (North Point Industrial) Industrial Site - Development plans for seven buildings on this site, which would total over a million square feet, are still underway, according to development authority.
40. Dean Forest Road (North Point Industrial) Industrial Site - Plans for this 131-acre site are still underway, according to development authority.
41. LogistiPort (DP Partners) Industrial Site - Constructi
ons of two buildings on the first tract of this site began early this year and should be completed in the fourth quarter. The two building will total over a million square feet. Plans for a second tract of land, totaling roughly 19.6 acres, are still underway, according to development authority.
42. CenterPoint (CenterPoint Properties) Industrial Site - This site is home to the Georgia-Pacific Corp., according to the development authority.
43. GA Commerce Center Telfair Road (McDonald Development) Industrial Site - Two buildings, together totaling over 700,000 square feet, are scheduled to be completed this year. Another building of over 100,000 square feet does not have a completion date set, according to the development authority.
44. Tremont Industrial Center (Johnson Development) Industrial Site - Construction of the first of four proposed buildings began in December of last year. The site should provide over 142 acres of industrial space, according to the development authority.
45. Tradeport Business Center (Commonwealth) Industrial Site - Six buildings are proposed for this site. The first building, which will total over 200,000 square feet, should be completed this year. The entire site will provide over 800,000 square feet of industrial space if all buildings are completed, according to the development authority.
46. Morgan Center - Three parcels of land are being developed by three different companies at this location, according to the development authority.
A) Commonwealth Industrial is still planning for its 62-acre parcel of land.
B.) AMB Property Corp. began construction of the first of four planned buildings in January, the first buildings, when completed, will be over 300,000 square feet. A second building, of approximately the same size, should begin construction after the first is completed. When all plans are completed, the site will have two more buildings that will each provide over a million square feet of industrial space.
C.) Oakmont is constructing two buildings are scheduled to be completed this year. When finished, the site will provide over 900,000 square feet of industrial space.
47. Research Forest Tract - This tract of land was acquired by the Effingham County Industrial Development Authority. According to the authority, the site is comprised of two separate tracts that total roughly 2,300 acres. This will be a "legacy" development to include commercial, executive office, heavy industrial, light industrial, professional service, research and recreational land uses.
48. Effingham County Industrial Park - This park, was developed by the Effingham County Industrial Development Authority and totals roughly 2,500 acres. The Effingham Development Authority has announced several new tenants recently, such as Flint River Services refrigerated storage, ValuePart distribution center and Savannah Yacht Company manufacturing. Also, Temcor Inc., an aluminum structure design firm known for its aluminum domes, and Doncasters, Inc., an aerospace manufacturer, are expanding their operations at this site.
49. Georgia Tech's Advanced Technology Development Center - ATDC launched a new initiative in Savannah during spring 2002. The program assists new ventures arising from Savannah's diverse technology community that includes educational institutions such as the Savannah College of Art and Design, established companies and a growing community of start-ups, according to its Web site. The center is currently working with five companies in the Savannah area.
50. Evoca.com - A tech start-up and new knowledge-based business providing audio recording that goes directly to the Web. The Creative Coast Initiative and Georgia Tech's Advanced Technology Development (ATDC) Center helped with the development of Evoca.
ATDC describes Evoca on its Web site as facilitating "audio recording-on-demand by turning telephones and PCs into digital recorders and players, making it easy for mainstream users to create, organize, share, and search audio recordings online. Through EvocaMic." For information, go to www .evoca.com/.
51. Attrasoft - Attrasoft is a knowledge-based company with ties to ATDC and The Creative Coast Initiative.
According to ATDC's Web site, Attrasoft develops software solutions for companies that require fast and accurate image and video recognition. Attrasoft simplifies the image recognition process by offering an alternative to traditional manual image comparison. By allowing the user to compare thousands of images automatically, Attrasoft's solution reduces the time, cost, and human error associated with manual image recognition. The company has developed proprietary technology that is robust and scalable and can handle any image type with 97.5 percent to 99.9 percent accuracy. For information, go to www .attrasoft.com/.
52. Pixelphish - Another Savannah brainy business that was developed with help from ATDC and The Creative Coast Initiative. For the past few years, Pixelphish developed courseware for the world's largest corporate aviation training companies. Now it applies that expertise to the general aviation market, according to ATDC's Web site
Pilot Classroom, the company's new Web-based product, will advance the opportunities for the general aviation pilot to obtain relevant, interactive training on a myriad of topics, at their own convenience and from an expert in the field.
Pilot Classroom is a membership-based online aviation community featuring a suite of offerings including flight-planning tools, aviation news, and FAA resources as well as Web-based training led by aviation experts. For information, go to www.pixelphish.com/.
53. Ford Plantation - Located in Richmond Hill in Bryan County, the Ford Plantation is roughly a 20-minute drive from Savannah. This upscale gated community is located on land that has historic links to Henry Ford's estate.
Its Web site states, "These 1,800 historic acres are now being preserved for a few fortunate families. Only 400 homesites will ever be offered. Cottage sites from $200,000; Homesites from $250,000 to $2.9 million." Amenities include club membership and golf. For information, go to www .fordplantation .com/content/504.htm.
54. Landings On Skidaway Island - The Landings is an upscale private gated community with many amenities for its residents. It includes the Landings Club, which has six championship golf courses, three tennis complexes, a fully equipped fitness center and four full-service clubhouses. The club is located within the gated Landings community on Skidaway Island, a 6,500-acre coastal island near historic Savannah. There are more than 3,000 completed homes in the Landings and there are usually only about 40 lots for sale. The Landings is roughly 4,500 acres and is permitted for a total number of roughly 4,300 homes. For information, go to www. thelandings.com/.
55. Winding Creek - The 710-acre residential development is permitted for 2,057 dwelling units.
56. Rice Hope Plantation - Rice Hope Plantation is a housing development at the edge of the Chatham County border with Effingham County. As reported by the Savannah Morning News, Rice Hope Plantation features green spaces, more than 300 acres of wetlands, a 20-acre amenities area, which will include a water playground, several clusters of homes with history-sensitive names like Mulberry, Black Creek, Musgrove, and Whitney Park and a 27-acre public lake. It is permitted for about 4,500 dwelling units on 925 acres.
57. Highlands at Godley Station - The Highlands are 2,800 acres of what was formerly known as North Godley Station. Godley Station, both the north and south sides, is a 7,500-acre development that is permitted for 7,500 dwelling units. The residential portion of The Highlands is planned for 4, 639 single-family residences in the $150,000 to $400,000 price range, according to Gilbert Realty Company LLC.
58. Villages/Towne Lake Village at Godley Station - This area is also known as South Godley, Godley Station, both the north and south sides, is a 7,500-acre development that is permitted for 7,500 dwelling units. The south side of Godley is roughly 5,800 acres and was developed by Branigar/ UnionCamp/ International Paper, according to Gilbert Realty Company. Gilbert Realty also states that over 400 sales of single-family homes were reported in 2005 at the Villages and Towne Lake Village. This side of Godley station also includes Mill Creek, a retail space anchored by a Home Depot, and a Wal-Mart Supercenter.
59. Savannah Quarters - There are several subdivisions inside Savannah Quarters, including Westbrook, which features, according to its Web site, villas with four bedrooms or three bathrooms, open and flowing floor plans, golf, a lagoon, floor plans from 2,760 square feet to 2,960 square feet, membership in a country club, and priced from $340, 000. Easthaven at Savannah Quarters is composed of two separate neighborhoods, the Gates at Savannah Quarters by CrafBuilt Homes and Hamiliton Grove at Savannah Quarters by Centex Homes. Savannah Quarters is 2,588 acres and is permitted for 8,528 dwelling units.
60. New Hampstead - Developed by International Paper, it is roughly 4,505 acres and permitted for 10,144 dwelling units.
61. Berwick Plantation - Berwick Plantation is a planned community located on more than 1,900 acres just 2 miles from Georgia 204 on U.S. 17. It is permitted for 3,372 homes.
62. Crossroads Business Center - Crossroads Business Park, developed by the Savannah Economic Development Authority more than 10 years ago, is home to a number of large-scale distribution facilities, including Pier 1 Imports, Dollar Tree, Home Depot and Lummus Corp.
The Morning News reported in January that home-improvement retailer Lowe's purchased Crossroads Distribution Center, a 491,000-square-foot building in Crossroads Business Park, from Atlanta-based developer Solution Property Group for $20 million. Lowe's is expected to use the facility to store imported items coming through the Port of Savannah from Asia before moving them on to the company's regional distribution centers in Valdosta, Charlotte, N.C., and other locations.
63. Crossroads Business Center Expansion - The Crossroads Expansion site is located off Jimmy DeLoach Parkway adjacent to Crossroads Business Center. It provides for easy access to the Savannah/Hilton Head International Airport, the Port of Savannah and I-95.
Last December, the Morning News reported that Midwest Air Technologies, a leading international manufacturer of fencing, lawn and garden products, automobile parts and power equipment, signed a seven-year lease with North Point Real Estate to occupy a new warehouse facility at the location.
The $10 million project - a 225,000-square-foot building under construction - is the first in the area for Midwest. Developer North Point Real Estate owns the building and brokered the deal in conjunction with Blaine Kelley of CB Richard Ellis in Atlanta, according to the Morning News.
The two Crossroads sites together are home to more than 5 million square feet of industrial space, headquarters operations and Savannah Technical College's newest campus. Wal-Mart, Home Depot and Pier 1 all have major distribution centers in the 1,700-acre mixed-use business park.
64. International Home Depot Distribution Center - This major, automated distribution center from a major company has easy access to the Port of Savannah.
65. The Savannah International Trade and Convention Center - The center is located on Hutchinson Island. The waterfront complex features 100,000 square feet of divisible exhibit space, 50,000 square feet of prime meeting space, including 13 meeting rooms, four executive board rooms, a 25,000-square-foot Grand Ballroom, and a high-tech auditorium.
66. LogistiCenter At Savannah (DP Partners & Effingham County Industrial Development Authority) - The Effingham Industrial Development Authority and DP Partners have acquired this property, of approximately 1,750 acres split by Interstate 16. The land was selected by a team of professional economic developers for its location and suitability for industrial development, according to the Effingham County authority.