Why Historic Preservation
Matters More Than Ever?
Most Savannahians take for granted the National Landmark Status of our downtown area as well as our rich architectural history. A recent article in the Savannah Morning News alerted us to the fragility of this designation as we continue to erode our downtown. What has happened was large scale development, unsympathetic infill construction or additions and deterioration of the Oglethorpe Plan with loss of squares, alleys and historic traffic patterns.
However, Savannah is much more than the downtown area. The Friends of Massie, in partnership with the Downtown Neighborhood Association, sponsor quarterly lectures about history and architecture, and they want to open this preservation discussion to the public. They have invited Nick Palumbo, head of Smart Growth Savannah, to talk about extending historic preservation to other neighborhoods of Savannah and to share with everyone a sometimes-controversial conversation.
Nick Palumbo is an award-winning preservationist and most recently served as the President of the Ardsley Park/Chatham Crescent Neighborhood Association. In 2018, Nick spearheaded an effort to create a conservation district for his neighborhood that would prevent historic homes from needless demolition. Following that effort, other neighborhoods have begun to follow suit and the Historic Savannah Foundation honored him with the prestigious Lee and Emma Adler Award for Preservation Advocacy. Nick also completed a multi-year effort to complete a nomination for Ardsley Park's sister Neighborhood Ardmore to the National Register of Historic Places.
Nick also serves on the board of directors of Scenic America, where he lends his voice to national issues regarding the preservation of the visual character of our roadways, communities, and countryside.
On top of these duties, he also found time this past year to proudly serve as president of the Ardsley Park/Chatham Crescent Neighborhood Association, one of Savannah’s historic neighborhoods, where he lives with his wife and six adopted rescue pets.
Date: Wednesday, January 23, 2019
Place: Massie Heritage Center
207 East Gordon Street
Savannah, GA 31401
Time: 6:30 PM – 8 :00 PM
(Doors open at 6:30 and
Talk begins at 7 )
Seating Is limited, so reservations are needed
Please contact Steve Smith Curator, Massie Heritage School at 912-395-5070 for more information.