While opinions about what to do with the Johnny Mercer Theatre vary, there is one aspect that seems popular with a significant number of Savannah residents: restoring at least a portion of the six city blocks that were lost after the Civic Center was constructed in the early 1970s.
A plan being explored at Savannah City Council's direction would do just that. The proposal calls for the demolition of the Martin Luther King Jr. Arena, restoration of the Johnny Mercer Theatre and the construction of a city office building. But it also calls for the restoration of the historic street grid and conversion of the civic center surface parking lot into buildable parcels.
“What we can start to do immediately is put pieces back together again,” architect and urban planner Christian Sottile told city council last month.
Credit: Sottile & Sottile
Credit: Sottile & Sottile
Sottile's presentation included the history of the 7-acre site, which started as a square-centered ward reflecting the Oglethorpe plan. The area evolved in the 20th century, with Montgomery Street bisecting Elbert Square before construction of the Savannah Civic Center changed the landscape of the ward in the 1970s.
The redevelopment proposal presented to council in April calls for the restoration of much of the pre-Civic Center street grid but not the square.
“Jefferson Street, which has not connected in 50 years, can connect again to the city plan, Perry Street can connect again through the city plan, Perry Lane can connect to the city plan and McDonough Street can connect back through so we can start to put those blocks back together again,” Sottile said.
Resident Richard Coyle isn't in favor of keeping the Mercer around, but his opinions are a bit more broad when it comes to the remainder of the site.
"I'm not sure what's the best use for the entire Civic Center site, but reclaiming a bit of Savannah's history is probably a good place to start," Coyle said.
Credit: Sottile & Sottile
Credit: Sottile & Sottile
Others said the full restoration of Elbert and Liberty Squares should take center stage in any future plans.
“Do whatever you can to preserve the bones, the skeleton, the plan of Oglethorpe, it was great almost 300 years ago, it's just as great today,” said resident Ardis Wood.
"It's low scale, it's pedestrian friendly, and it's beautiful. It gives you green space, it gives you a place to hide your ugly things in the lane, like garbage cans. All the things that people want."
Credit: Richard Burkhart, Savannah Morning News
Credit: Richard Burkhart, Savannah Morning News
The future of the Mercer and the Civic Center site isn't a new topic for council or residents. In 2019, the previous council unanimously voted to approve a recommendation from the Urban Land Institute (ULI) that called for the entire site to be razed and the full Oglethorpe plan restored.
Wood would like to see the ULI plan along with the recent plan unveiled by the city presented side by side for public feedback. Other things, such as the proposal to remove the Interstate 16 flyover, must also be considered, she said.
“Let's talk about from (Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard) and the flyover to the Johnny Mercer Theatre and then on to the arena. You mustn't do this piecemeal, you've got to have a plan that you plug into. Do it right and you'll only do it once," said Wood
Dan Bass, who is in favor of keeping and restoring the Mercer, knows at least one thing that he doesn't want to see done with the property.
“I just want to see them if they can, retain the Johnny Mercer, build the other half of the square and try to restore it," he said.
"I just don't want to see them put up a bunch of daggone hotels."
Katie Nussbaum is the city and county government reporter for the Savannah Morning News. Contact her at knussbaum@savannahnow.com. Twitter: KnussSMN
This article originally appeared on Savannah Morning News: The case for history: Savannah residents weigh in on future of Johnny Mercer Theatre
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