Mitigating future flood damage in a historically underserved community.
Savannah, Georgia: $30.15 Million
This is a Justice40 project.
History
Savannah, a coastal Georgia city, is separated from South Carolina by the Savannah River. Carver Village is a historically Black neighborhood in Savannah that was established in 1948 as an affordable housing community and was home to many active military and veterans. The district contains more than 500 houses, churches, buildings and sites. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2019.
Project Description
The proposed activity for this project involves a phased approach. Phase one will include the preliminary project development work needed to prepare the project for construction. Primary responsibilities will include engineering and design, permitting, community engagement and property acquisitions. Phase two will include construction of the project. The construction plan will be tailored to address Phase one engineering and design deliverables. The city has existing Non-Governmental Organization (NGO) and community-based partnerships that it will unify under a City Task Force to promote the further mitigation of these residual risks. In addition, the city has an existing partnership with the Chatham Emergency Management Agency and the Georgia Institute of Technology (Georgia Tech) as part of the Smart Sea Level Sensors program.
The anticipated workflow will include contractor procurement, field surveying, demolition or relocation of improvements, excavation and structural/bank stabilization. Proposed improvements are required to convey stormwater runoff from existing ground within these neighborhoods to the Springfield Canal as soon as possible to assist with minimizing flooding potential within the community. Existing water and sewer utilities will be relocated in certain areas to accommodate the stormwater improvements.