Beautifying DeRenne
Editorial by the Publisher
Savannah Morning News
August 20, 2007

How could DeRenne Avenue feel more like Savannah instead of midtown Anywhere, USA? The question comes to mind in the wake of a presentation by Rhett Mouchet to the Tourism Leadership Council membership Thursday.  The commercial real estate broker and principal in Melaver/Mouchet, the brokerage division of Melaver Inc., spoke mainly about the economic vibrancy of Savannah’s midtown area.

Noting several big property sales and development deals going on in the vicinity of the DeRenne Avenue-Abercorn Street intersection, Mr. Mouchet nonetheless noted several issues in the area. 

One was the lack of “Class A” office space for rent.  The other was that, well, the area is not that attractive.  And Mr. Mouchet makes a good point.  As this is area is an important gateway into the city, its look and feel should more closely reflect the look and feel of the city as a whole.  Indeed, a beautification effort linking the city’s historic ambiance and thriving local marketplace to the bustling commercial thoroughfare would help unify Savannah’s split personality.

On the north side, the city is graceful, pedestrian friendly and filled with locally owned shops and restaurants.  The public spaces of Savannah’s south side are all too often hurried, cement covered and anonymous. 

City of Savannah spokesman called the DeRenne-Abercorn intersection “under-utilized” and said a beautification plan might be possible at some point.  Let’s hope that point is in the near-future, not light years away. 

DeRenne is ripe for some kind of face lift.  More aesthetic lighting and pedestrian-friendly crosswalks that encourage people to park their cars and walk would be good for a start.

A few Broughton Street-style business façade improvements would also help to revamp the commercial zone, especially if business owners were given incentives to adhere to a more genteel, Lowcountry architectural feel.

However a DeRenne Avenue beautification effort might progress, it should treat the area as an important gateway into the city, and make sure those who travel the thoroughfare get a proper introduction to Savannah.