Savannah Standard

The City of Savannah has been awarded a $2.5 million OneGeorgia Rural Workforce Housing Initiative grant from the State of Georgia to make sanitary sewer infrastructure improvements necessary to develop the 66-acre tract of land at 4801 Meding St.

Mayor Van R. Johnson, II expressed his excitement about the grant, stating, "For years now we have been working diligently to transform the former fairgrounds property into affordable housing. This grant is a big step in the right direction and will help us fulfill our promise to the residents for use of this property and we are grateful for the State’s investment in our City."

The development agreement in its final stages with P3JVG, LLC aims to transform the former fairgrounds property into a mixed-use development that includes quality affordable housing. City Manager Joseph A. “Jay” Melder highlighted the importance of the grant, stating, "This grant ensures we can maximize local investments into housing and other community needs, while the State helps pay for the water and sewer infrastructure needed to support the project."

The overall project is expected to include 400 housing units, film and sound studio facilities, a creative workforce innovation center, neighborhood commercial uses, parks, sports fields and courts, a nature preserve, and more. P3JVG will develop 30 new single-family homes and 20 townhomes in the first phase associated with the OneGeorgia grant award.

The grant awarded to the City of Savannah was part of the third round of grant recipients announced by Georgia Governor Brian P. Kemp, focusing on infrastructure development statewide through the Rural Workforce Housing Initiative. The initiative, launched in 2023, aims to spur development of critically needed workforce housing in communities across the state.

The City of Savannah's efforts, in collaboration with community partners, have been recognized through this grant, emphasizing the commitment towards addressing housing needs for various segments of the population.