City of Savannah Wins National Award for Revitalization

Members of City Council and City staff accept the National League of Cities' Award for Municipal Excellence The National League of Cities recognized the City of Savannah today with its highest honor for its innovative work revitalizing distressed neighborhoods.

Members of Savannah City Council and staff were presented with the Award for Municipal Excellence during a ceremony Friday at the NLC's annual Congress of Cities in San Antonio, Texas (see attached photo). Savannah won the Gold Medal for cities with populations between 50,000 and 150,000 for its Neighborhood Renaissance program. Gold Medal winners in the three other population categories were: New York City; Long Beach, Calif.; and Slidell, La.

Savannah's Neighborhood Renaissance initiative works with citizens to create revitalization plans for their neighborhoods, then uses public-private partnerships with multiple agencies to rebuild infrastructure, add new affordable housing, refurbish existing homes, acquire vacant property, aggressively enforce property maintenance codes and create enterprise zones to spur economic development.

Between 2000 and 2008, the City's Neighborhood Renaissance program leveraged more than $154 million for housing and neighborhood improvements in three Savannah neighborhoods: Cuyler-Brownville, Benjamin Van Clark, and West Savannah.

The program has led to new parks, new streets and sidewalks, and the construction of nearly 1,300 dwellings occupied by existing homeowners, new owners and renters.

A major component of these projects is the use of green, energy-efficient, sustainable design.

Another $100 million in investment is planned for a fourth Neighborhood Renaissance initiative -- Savannah Gardens, at the site of the former Strathmore Estates off Pennsylvania Avenue -- beginning next year. Upon completion, the project will receive EarthCraft Coastal Communities certification for its environmentally friendly design.

The National League of Cities is the nation's oldest and largest organization devoted to strengthening and promoting cities.

It is a resource and advocate for 19,000 cities, towns and villages in America.

For more information, contact the Public Information Office at 651- 6410.