Eastern Wharf Master Plan

Savannah, GA

Savannah has a rich architectural heritage that has established the city as a unique place with a character and identity unto itself. Savannah is best known for its organization of public squares and tight urban streets, dating back to 1733 when General James Oglethorpe laid the first four squares. A common architecture language also adds to the authentic feel and aesthetic of downtown Savannah.

Eastern Wharf (formerly Savannah River Landing) is a phased 58-acre mixed-use development situated in a key location adjacent to historic downtown Savannah with 2,000 linear feet of frontage along the Savannah River. In a former life, the site was used for agricultural and industrial purposes and for decades was the largest undeveloped site adjacent to downtown. The Eastern Wharf Master Plan evolved from a partially developed site which fell victim to the Great Recession. Cooper Carry worked with its developer clients to envision and document a plan which utilized as much of the infrastructure already in place on the property while rightsizing blocks for better development flexibility and functionality.

A connected network of quality public spaces drove the evolution of the master plan. The first phase of development includes a 80-foot-wide waterfront park along the river, a large one-acre park at the heart of the development which provides the opportunity for larger gatherings and events, and an internal activated linear park that extends views and river access deep into the property. Cooper Carry transitioned from the master plan to architectural design for the first phase residential and retail block through our research and creation of a Pattern Book, which analyzes the character, scale, and details that make historic Savannah distinctive. Our team collaborated in this effort to inform the design direction of the vertical architecture to craft an aesthetic language that is contemporary but feels “of Savannah.” This public-private partnership is currently set to break ground in the fall of 2018.