In Savannah, if you look up, you are likely to see any number of historic buildings that have been restored to how they looked in the early part of the Southern city’s history, which began in 1733.
And if you look down, you are likely to see Pine Hall Brick clay pavers in sidewalks, crosswalks and plazas.
It’s not unusual. Many times, architectural designers have chosen the pavers for use in historic renovations throughout the United States.
That’s because they combine modern durability and consistent size, making them easy to install and maintain, with aesthetics that complement the surrounding buildings.
They are certainly being used in Savannah, as they’ve been installed in the first of three proposed street renovation projects.
And when we visited, we learned about a second, larger renovation project that is using Pine Hall Brick clay pavers: Plant Riverside District, which extends the riverwalk by a quarter mile and adds 670,000 square feet of entertainment and hospitality space, according to Savannah magazine.
In all, the project encompasses a JW Marriott hotel, three distinctly themed buildings, high-end shopping, rooftop bars, art galleries, parks and live music venues — all in the footprint of the city’s first power plant, built-in 1912, the magazine reported in a July 2020 story.
The city as a destination
Known as Savannah’s Entertainment District, Plant Riverside District stands apart as a vibrant entertainment destination, offering incredible dining, high-end shopping, live music and spectacular performances year-round, according to a prepared statement.
“With the creation of Plant Riverside District, my desire was to do something special with a landmark building in Savannah and to create exciting new indoor and outdoor spaces that are truly built for fun,” said Richard C. Kessler, Chairman and CEO of The Kessler Collection, which oversaw the development. “We transformed an abandoned 1912 power plant with 1,100 linear feet overlooking the Savannah River into an exceptional asset for local residents and visitors, offering live music, inspiring art, international cuisine and incredible entertainment throughout the year. I’m thrilled that Plant Riverside District has become a symbol of hospitality in Savannah.”
Others have noticed. Since the first phase of JW Marriott Savannah Plant Riverside District officially opened in July 2020, the redevelopment project has received a number of awards, including the Congress for the New Urbanism’s 2021 International Charter Awards Grand Prize, the Urban Land Institute’s 2021 Americas Awards for Excellence, the Urban Land Institute’s 2021 Global Awards for Excellence, a 2021 Georgia Trust for Historic Preservation Award for Excellence in Rehabilitation, a Historic Savannah Foundation Preservation Award and the Americas Lodging Investment Summit (ALIS) Development of the Year Award.
And those who live, work and play in downtown Savannah will continue to reap the benefits, now and in the decades to come.