Savannah Mall Redevelopment Options Presented

The city received a report detailing four potential futures for the vacant Savannah Mall property.

Updated on Sept. 27, 2026 in Commercial

Savannah Mall Redevelopment Options Presented

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Should your local government use tax revenue to redevelop closed commercial properties into community hubs?

Savannah officials have reviewed a new study outlining four potential redevelopment pathways for the Savannah Mall, which closed in 2023. The site is being considered for a town center, sports hub, mixed-use community, or neighborhood housing project.

Why it matters

The city aims to utilize the property to establish a functional town core for the Southside. By aligning future construction with community needs, local leaders hope to address long-standing service and housing gaps in the area.

The city has secured $18 million in Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax revenue to facilitate the project. Four distinct redevelopment models have been proposed, with the overall transformation estimated to take roughly seven years.

The players

Urban Land Institute Savannah

This organization facilitates technical assistance panels to address complex land use and development challenges within the city.

Congress for New Urbanism

This nonprofit promotes walkable, mixed-use community development and design principles across the United States.

The details

The Urban Land Institute Savannah conducted an intensive technical assistance panel in April 2026, which included stakeholder interviews with business owners and community leaders. The initiative follows earlier efforts, including a 2018 proposal from the Congress for New Urbanism, to revitalize the site through residential retrofitting.

The Congress for New Urbanism proposed retrofitting the mall in 2018.
The Savannah Mall officially closed its doors in 2023.
A technical assistance panel was held in April 2026.
The city council received the formal redevelopment report on September 24, 2026.
The city anticipates the redevelopment process will span the next seven years.

Culture Shift

The potential transformation of the Savannah Mall reflects a growing national trend of repurposing defunct suburban retail spaces into multi-functional community hubs. This shift follows the 2018 Congress for New Urbanism Savannah Mall proposal, which initially sparked the conversation about converting the site for residential use.

Residents in the Southside area may see significant changes to their daily commuting and service access if the city proceeds with one of the proposed development models. Property owners and shoppers should monitor future council meetings for updates on potential land acquisition and construction timelines.

The takeaway

The move to repurpose the Savannah Mall indicates a long-term commitment to revitalizing the Southside through strategic infrastructure investment. Residents should stay engaged with public hearings as the city determines which of the four proposed models best serves the local population.