Sunday’s City Talk column detailed the recent sale and planned restoration of the Berrien House at the northwest corner of Habersham and Broughton streets. Architecturally and historically, it’s one of the most important buildings around.
That column got me thinking again about other grand properties in need of major repair, renovation and restoration.
The reuse of the old Sears — bounded by Bull, Duffy, Drayton and Henry streets — would be a boon for the greater downtown economy.
But the building was used for government offices in the relatively recent past, so much of the original character has been lost. Count me among those who think the best future for that block might begin with tearing down the existing structure.
There are, however, empty buildings around town that beg to be saved, renovated and used again.
Two in particular stand out to me. They are both commercial properties on the edges of the Historic District.
The old Kehoe Iron Works on the last block of East Broughton Street is one of the most beautiful commercial buildings in the city.
You might have caught glimpses of the elegant roofline while driving on nearby streets or seen the back of it from functions at the Morris Center. But you have to stand right in front of the building to appreciate it fully.
The Kehoe Iron Works is part of the larger Trustees Garden property. There have been a number of stated plans for those parcels in recent years, including the recent announcement of an amphitheatre to be built on the slope behind the Morris Center. The old industrial building could somehow be part of that complex, or it could be some sort of event venue of its own — an idea that occasionally gets batted around.
Another potential event venue sits further south at the corner of East Broad and Gwinnett streets.
I’m among those who simply call the dilapidated building Hungry World because of the fading sign on the curving marquee. Hungry World was a mission, but longtime Savannahians might remember the East Side Theater, a haven for black citizens in the days before integration and multiplexes.
The property has been available in recent years, and I’ve heard of a few folks interested in it. But it would be really expensive to purchase and renovate, and the earning potential of any future use is questionable.
Still, I’m convinced a buyer with deep pockets and a clear vision could do something great in the old theater. The building might not be as grand or as old as the Kehoe Iron Works, but the East Side Theater still seems worth preserving for both its history and its classic commercial facade.
City Talk appears every Sunday and Tuesday. Bill Dawers can be reached via billdawers@comcast.net and http://www.billdawers.com. Send mail to 10 East 32nd St., Savannah, GA 31401.