Savannah City Council delays vote on homeless shelter proposal
Savannah City Council delays vote on homeless shelter proposal By Blair Caldwell | March 11, 2021 at 5:05 PM EST - Updated March 11 at 7:55 PM
SAVANNAH, Ga. (WTOC) - Savannah City Council pulled a highly debated issue off their agenda Thursday.
They were set to vote on a special use permit to allow the Salvation Army to bring a shelter to Augusta Avenue. But tabled the discussion.
Originally council was set to address this issue late into their meeting but took time right from the start to pull it from the agenda.
Though doing so caused some confusion.
Alderwoman Bernetta Lanier: West Savannah needs economic development, not homeless shelters
Neighborhood in need of development that provides affordable permanent housing, community-friendly businesses, retail and commercial job generators, healthy food alternatives, a grocery store, and cultural and entertainment outlets
Alderwoman Bernetta Lanier
This is an op-ed by Alderwoman Bernetta Lanier, who represents the city s first district. She is in her first term on Savannah City Council. Read Salvation Army leader: Center of Hope an investment in West Savannah community for another view on this topic
We say we want equity. We say we want smart growth and development. We say we want to do something about poverty. Yet, deliberate acts of structural and systemic racism continue.
The Salvation Army has served in Savannah for over 120 years in the hopes of caring for those with the greatest need. But now a few leaders with conflicting interests in the property where we hope to build a new Center of Hope are portraying us as an uncaring organization, intent on ruining a neighborhood and besmirching the memory of the Weeping Time slave auction.
Let’s please put these untruths to bed so we can continue to do the most good.
First, the property that The Salvation Army has under contract on Augusta Avenue is not “in the middle of a neighborhood” nor is it “next to a school” as has been stated. The property is zoned B-C (Community Business) and is bounded on the south and west by I-L (Light Industrial) properties; on the north by B-C property; and on the east by Lynes Parkway. The nearest home is east along Augusta Avenue, past Lynes Parkway bridge, over 500 feet away. The nearest school is on the other side of Lynes Parkway.
Can a homeless shelter and memorial to a sad time in history coexist? savannahnow.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from savannahnow.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
Questions over Savannah alderwomanâs opposition to homeless shelter, ties to competing proposal
Questions over Savannah alderwomanâs opposition to homeless shelter, ties to competing proposal By Max Diekneite | March 4, 2021 at 8:39 PM EST - Updated March 5 at 3:10 PM
SAVANNAH, Ga. (WTOC) - WTOC Investigates has confirmed an alderwoman on the Savannah City Council who has fought against the Salvation Army of Savannahâs efforts to build a new homeless shelter in West Savannah has ties to a proposal for the same land.
Alderwoman Bernetta Lanier founded Ivory Bay Community Development Corporation (CDC) in 2005. Last week, a proposal for a development at 2305 Augusta Avenue was submitted to the Housing Authority of Savannah with Ivory Bay CDC listed as a partner. Two Savannah public officials - one on the Savannah City Council - expressed concern to WTOC about a potential conflict of interest regarding Alderwoman Lanier.