The proposed location is at 246 W. Broughton St. within a currently vacant building, constructed in 1924, which is a contributing structure in the National Historic Landmark District.
The building is owned by local lawyer Daryl Walker. He purchased the building in the early 80’s with the intention to renovate it however the cost of the renovation was much greater that he anticipated so his plans for improvements fell flat. The building has now stood vacant for nearly 20 years and it has fallen in to a state of severe disrepair.
Daniel Carey of the Savannah Historic Society at the prospect of McDonalds renovating and occupying the historic structure"We're encouraged when vacant buildings can be brought back to life…………The adaptive use of this vacant, historic building, which is a rated and a contributing building to the National Historic Landmark District, is a positive."
However I when I attended (my first and surprisingly exciting) Historic Review Board meeting on April 14 I watched him express disdain over McDonald’s proposed addition of a walk up window to the structure. Daniel Carey was definitely not a
Board member Robin Williams appeared to share the apprehension over the walk up window, stating that “it changes the character of façade and alters the symmetry that exists”
Over all the hearing ran went extremely well for McDonald’s, in spite of the contention caused by the walk up window, and McDonald’s exterior plans passed fan of “poke[ing] a hole in a historic building.” the Historic Review Board with a 6 to 1 vote of approval.
........So McDonalds; preservation friend or foe?
You decide.
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I'm a little biased because I already semi-despise McDonald's. But I'd have to see their exterior plans before I had a concrete opinion. The walk-up window would be a bit much, but if they didn't put a blaring 'M' on the exterior of the building and just kept it to moderately sized window-art, it might be okay. Then again I doubt McDonald's has any knowledge in the art of subtlety. Also I don't live in the area, so there could be an entirely different series of contextual objections to be made.
ReplyDeleteI have now posted a picture of the rendering of the proposed McDonalds exterior I apologize for the poor quality of the image. (Note the blaring M)Sadly i couldn’t locate an image of the proposed walk up window. My main concern with the walk up window is how it will affect pedestrian traffic on Broughton St. As far as McDonald’s presence in downtown Savannah...... well almost anything is better than a blighted (historic) building.
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