From the President:
I would like to thank those of you who attended last week's membership meeting where we heard from the Georgia Ports Authority and the General Services Administration. I found both presentations informative and I learned more about courthouse construction and shipping routes and ports than I expected.
At the meeting, I announced that the city was going to rescind the stop work order on the pool installation at 3 W Perry St. We have since learned that was not what happened. The city kept the stop work order in place and is continuing to investigate the owner's plans for that location. We will keep you informed as the situation develops.
I would like to refute one rumor that has been circulating concerning a donation from the owner of 3 W Perry St to the Ships of the Sea Museum. For many years, the DNAhas worked with the Ships of the Sea Museum and the Beehive Foundation on historic preservation issues in the downtown community. I am confident that any donation from the owner would not cause the museum to approve a community pool. The DNA also received a donation from the owner and, if the intent was to buy our approval, then it failed. (I am not suggesting that was the intent of a donation.)
I spoke with the owner of 3 W Perry St, and he told me that it is his intent, if allowed by ordinance, to have his pool opened for all of his rental properties in Savannah. He told me that the pool usage would be well managed and operated from 10 am-5 pm with an occasional movie night for children's movies. I let the owner know that the DNA was currently meeting with the city over noise and tourist-related problems and that STVRs were a concern of ours as it related to guest behavior. Based on what we know, the DNA cannot support the pool usage as stated by the owner. The Board believes this is a quality-of-life issue for residents. The Board has decided to refund the sponsorship money sent to us by the owner and decline his sponsorship.
Our next membership meeting will be on November 28 at the Coastal Georgia Center again. The date was changed because our regular meeting date is the week of Thanksgiving. For this event, we have invited each of our area State Representatives and State Senators to meet with us and discuss issues facing the State and our city. We will be soliciting questions from members before the meeting.
We hope each of you has a quiet week and is able to enjoy the film festival.
David McDonald
President
Downtown Neighborhood Association Savannah, GA Inc.