James May June 2024 web - Flipbook - Page 33
RIVER STREET
“The recent growth of our airport
is a direct reflection on the efforts we
have put forth in partnership with the
CVBs, Chambers of Commerce, and
Economic Development Authorities in
helping promote the Coastal Georgia
and Coastal South Carolina regions—
all of which are great places to visit,
live and establish business in. The
airlines have responded to the growing interest in our region by adding
capacity, frequency and new markets,”
says Greg Kelley, executive director of
the Savannah Airport Commission.
The Georgia Ports Authority (GPA)
also plays a pivotal role in the economic
prosperity and development of Savannah and Chatham County, serving as a
vital gateway for global commerce and
trade. It’s obvious that the Savannah
and Brunswick ports contribute significantly to job creation and employment
opportunities; generate substantial
revenue for the local economy through
cargo handling fees, terminal leases,
and related services; and they offer strategic access to major shipping routes
and trade corridors— serving as a key
gateway for cargo entering and exiting
the Southeastern United States.
GPA continually invests in infrastructure upgrades and expansion
project. Recent initiatives include the
deepening of the Savannah harbor,
the development of intermodal rail
facilities and the enhancement of terminal operations through technology
and automation.
SAVANNAH’S RIVER STREET
Housed in one-time cotton
warehouses, there are more than 75
boutiques, galleries, artists’ studios,
restaurants and pubs located on
Savannah’s River Street. Visitors can
spend an entire day exploring all that
it has to offer.
The street has been transformed
over the course of the last century
into a premier center of tourism and
hospitality, with traces of its industrial
history remaining. The atmosphere is
perhaps unmatched elsewhere and the
offerings are endless— especially with
the development of the impressive
Plant Riverside District. Through the
redevelopment and transition of the
original 1912 power plant, the Plant
Riverside District generates a new
kind of energy for the citizens and
visitors alike. It features hotel rooms,
restaurants, lounges and meeting
space. Along its shoreline, over a quarter-mile of riverwalk has been created.
Located on the street’s west end,
the development opened on July 29,
2020 after several years of construction. A JW Marriott hotel anchors the
development, which incorporates the
old power plant as well as an extended
riverwalk into the overall design. It is
the brainchild of Richard C. Kessler.
He’s the CEO of Kessler Enterprises
who, a decade earlier, envisioned a
large-scale redevelopment on what was
an almost-forgotten riverfront section.
In 2021, Plant Riverside District
was honored by the Congress for the
New Urbanism, as well as the Urban
Land Institute and Historic Savannah
Foundation for excellence in urban
design and historic preservation. The
complex also earned a 2021 Georgia
Trust Historic Preservation Award for
Excellence in Rehabilitation.
MOVIE CAREER TRAINING
With the growth of the film industry in Savannah comes a need for a larger workforce pool, The Department of
Journalism and Mass Communications
(JMC) at Savannah State University
GEORGIA QUEEN RIVERBOATS
M AY/ J UNE 2024
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