America's Rising Cities: Savannah
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- Опубліковано 13 чер 2024
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Music: Acid Jazz by Kevin MacLeod is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 license. creativecommons.org/licenses/...
#urban #urbanism #savannah #architecture #georgia #transit
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So you basically want us to live like it is 1880? Like if cities never changed after 1900 we would be in a utopia apparently
I really appreciate what these videos do for urbanism content. Lots of negativity around how badly we’ve ruined cities in the US, but sharing these comeback stories are just as important. Great work!!!
The negativity needs to happen. People need to be aware how apocalyptic planning is in the US but also which “solutions” are NOT solutions. In the entire western world you can count on one hand the number of urban scale projects that have sold off normal lots for individual development since about the 50s. Most attempts at new urbanism/traditional whatever are just overly prescriptive or corporate monocultures masquerading as a modal shift. They fail to grow an ecosystem of owner-businesses, owner-dwellers, individual landlords etc. Forget the architectural styles and tastes, transit etc. this part needs to be done right. All the other projects that could be described as a success are really just accessories to existing neighbourhoods. It seems like Savannah has the right idea but is struggling to get support for literally the only proven urban-economic model that has ever existed. That’s not hyperbole.
@@Freshbott2why does nyc have less cars than other cities around the world
There is an island in Michigan and you can’t drive cars in the island
@@AbimaelLopez-hz3qq because paying for a car and other living expenses in New York is incredibly expensive.
@@AbimaelLopez-hz3qq not really sure what you’re asking me tbh. Does it have to do with Savannah’s new planning scheme?
Coming from Houston, seeing this style and level of planning is a breath of fresh air. Makes me want to move to Savannah!
I live in Houston and I went to Charleston for vacation. It’s 10 times prettier than Houston lol
@@bhuvanordhruv Houston is a Democrat run shit-hole. Lots of violent crime. That's why so many are moving out to the suburbs and planned communities.
Why not move? Houston is a boring city. There are obvious tax compromises in Georgia, but the culture and style of living would be much better.
Thanks for making this video. As a Savannah area native who works in local government here, I have dealt with these promising plans first hand. Unfortunately, redevelopment here takes a very long time and faces many barriers, as it does in every city. Like you mentioned some of these plans will never follow through as there is always pushback from either residents or greedy developers that don't have "the human scale" in mind. (The planning commission meetings here get real interesting). Many of these plans that expand into low income neighborhoods on the fringe of downtown face pushback from residents that are concerned with gentrification. Some of the plans promise low income housing, but those promises aren't always kept. Anyways I agree that redevelopment of the sprawling areas is much needed. Communities on the south part of Abercorn and surrounding suburbs like Pooler are the complete opposite of the walkable downtown that we fortunately get to have. Thanks again for bringing attention to Savannah's growth.
Had the chance to live just outside the city for a Summer while interning. Seriously cannot describe what a model city Savannah is for the US. I really hope most or all of these projects come to fruition, because they could be a guiding beacon for other cities in the South to understand that there is a way to have a beautiful, functional, financially solvent, modern city.
it’s cool to think all these urbanist UA-camrs have actually been making a difference by changing public opinion, thus motivating local governments to put in the effort. Probably also helps so many boomers are leaving the mortal world at once lol
Yeah it’s the boomers finally dying. Urbanism has always been around. It’s the boomers and their hoarded wealth who overpower them.
Hopefully the younger generations can fix most of the problems caused by the Boomers.
While that's a pretty nasty thing to say about our elders... I agree lol
@@BuildNewTowns The boomers helped build this country.
Leave it to the most recent generation to unashamedly criticize entire previous ones without recognizing first their own failures. Boomers did not create this problem. If anything, it began with their fathers and their father’s fathers. The interstates were built not by the boomers but by the previous generations. Every successive generation, including our own, plays a part in allowing architecture to decline. We haven’t seen a significant awakening among young people yet. But I would guess people from the next 3 generations will be responsible for turning the tide, if even possible. New urbanism is still very localized to already beautiful towns and does not have a very high success rate of completion outside of that. Except for a few exceptions. I’ve seen books that laid out future in-development new urbanist towns and probably about 10-20% were completed with their original goals in mind.
Truly an underrated city! Visited there on Christmas of 2020.
Could not decide whether Savannah or Charleston was better.
Another great video, Alex. Savannah is one of the few cities in America with the right climate, layout, and development mix for bike and street-level rail solutions to be easily implemented and adopted. I've been twice, both times in the winter; even in December, the climate is suitable for pedestrian life. It's a shame to see that these great design initiatives are being discarded, or implemented in half-measures.
This is absolutley what cities all over the country and continent should be doing. If Savanah improves their public transit as well, it'll undoubtedly be one of the best cities in the country.
Thanks for making this! I actually suggested it in a previous video. Savannah really is a special city. I've personally visited the city and its a great example of what good American urbanism looks like. It's like being transported back to the 1800's.
As a native Georgian, Savannah is definitely one of my favorite cities! I've even applied to internships there in hopes of living there. Maybe one day lol.
Savannah is such an amazing city. Sadly the weather is too hot for me.
Savannah is literally, the worst.
Other than the flooding, it's not that bad. Between a summer in Savannah or New Orleans and a summer in Phoenix I'll take Savannah or New Orleans (speaking from experience)
@@travismorgan3252I mean its growing so it cant be all that bad 😂
How wildly exciting
If I can make a recommendation, three long-forgotten cities that were once well within the top 100-- Fall River, Springfield, and Holyoke, Massachusetts. All were gems, and today it seems like most people in that state have forgotten what they even were, most people who remember are from out of state. Thanks for covering both cities risen and fallen
Hopefully the south coast and western commuter rail lines will revitalize both cities that are plagued.
I like cities that mix styles together. To where you can walk around and see each layer built on top of itself. Sounds like Savannah is going to have to go on my list of places I want to visit. Cool video.
Alexander, thank you once again for a superb video. Let's hope that Savannah's plans come to fruition. If only all American cities and towns could boast such beauty!
Just another reason to visit this city. Never been here but it already looked like one of the nicest cities, and if they can stop and revert modern urban building practices and get back to old practices this city could become one of the most beautiful cities not just in the U.S., but in the whole world.
These are great plans for urbanizing Savannah but follow through to prevent further suburban development and to include the working classes and marginalized groups are necessary to keep from becoming a mini Houston or a mini Portland. Make sure these happen!
You should make videos on Oklahoma City, Carlton Landing, and Seaside. Might also include Norman, OK, too. I mention these because of the existence of new urbanist housing developments. Carlton Landing is one town that is being built from scratch from these age-old principles. You should have mentioned in your Charleston video the ACBA, the American College of the Building Arts. It was founded as a result of the devastation from Hurricane Hugo in the 1980’s. To build traditional architecture, we need artisans trained in the historical arts.
I’m from Georgia, and growing up I visited Savannah often. I think it is a beautiful city, and something our state can be proud of that doesn’t come from the Atlanta area (the reason Columbus, Macon, and Augusta each have a chip on their shoulder). I feel that many aspects of Savannah are things each of those other cities can aspire to, especially with these proposed plans.
If Savannah can actually go through with streetcars, it can be a catalyst for smaller cities to adopt them, also. I can think of a few where they can probably work well, just as they did until the 1930s. Many of the “streetcar suburbs” in the inner suburban belt still exist in those cities and could see a return of the vehicles.
Savannah is an absolutely beautiful cultural gem. This type of corrective redevelopment is essential to our future as a nation. Get the war profiteers out and put the money into a culture of living instead of destruction.
That’s what needs to happen we need to focus on our own country and people and streets
Thank you for making this video!
great video! and great news. and you brought up a great point, this is why there is a lot of traffic in cities because everyone is trying to get to the nice part of downtown, so why not just expand the nice parts of downtown to new areas to distribute the interest.
dude yes!!! i remember a couple days back on a google maps hopping spree of random places in the US, i noticed how neatly savannah was designed. i had no idea it was so walkable and charming had i not clicked around spontaneously. Now I'm planning a trip to check it out. Looks amazing
Happy that they are preserving what looks to be a train roundhouse 3:50
I think it’s part of a railroad museum complex.
Unfortunately the former union station is now the side of I-16 exit ramps going into the downtown.
I was born in Savannah and my dad went to scad, it’s a beautiful city!
Amazing video, please continue to make more ❤
One of my favorite things about Savannah is the way that the Savannah College of Art and Design has significant input when it comes to these kinds of changes being made to the city. I'm not from the city but I've visited a half dozen times, and each time it surprises me how much of the touristy historic parts of the city have been restored or protected by SCAD - last time we were there we had lunch at the Gryphon Tea Room which is in an old pharmacy and ice cream store and they retained a bunch of the original fixtures and decorations when it was restored to become the tea room. It's just one example of literally dozens where I'm sure the citizens of Savannah are truly grateful there's an institution dedicated to keeping the character of places intact whenever possible and preserving/fostering the city's culture by doing so.
SCAD itself has its issues, but in such cases it can be a force for good.
Great video man. Love hearing some positive US urban planning content. Also great that the plans acknowledge that beauty matters
Really good video. On another note, I love the planning art that was done for these plans so much, the watercolours are so pleasant.
Love the series! I think Carmel IN would make a great video
Killer content man, loving it. Subbed!
was just there today for my birthday so seeing this was a treat. thank you for your dedication 🙏🏽
Thank you for making this video. I haven't heard of this project until your video!
Great news, too many people moving to congested Atlanta. That city needs a break and savannah need to become the 2nd largest and sought after city in Georgia.
Savannah need a ligh rail lines, better bus system and a amtrak station in its downtown area.
Glad to see so many people are interested in beautifying American cities. America is a land of extremes, so maybe the destruction of city centers and extreme utilitarian ugliness and brutal modernism of the later half of the 20th century can be replaced by extreme beauty, charm and cheerful delight in the later half of the 21st century.
Awesome initiatives!
Super sick
This is all great, but what would make this even better would be having some tram lines throughout the downtown. The dense development makes it perfect for this! Bring us something like Zürich or Vienna!
Or like how American cities were like 100 years ago
Can you do a video on Carmel,Indiana? I want to see your take on it.Great vid😁👍
I love how slowly but surely people remember that cities always had another purpose rather than pure "functionality" (although functionality in american city planning was also 2nd to car infrastructure). Cities in europe or early america always had a purpose in showing outsiders how great a place is. For example european cities like Vienna were built so that officials or even just citizens would come to Vienna and thing of austria as a formidable country with riches and wealth that exceeded just the royal family and affected the whole city. And it also was to show the people living in the country that they live in a wealthy country that has the means to value beauty.
Nowadays maybe the show-offish nature of building beautifully might not be as important, but maybe subconsciously it would improve the outlook people have on their living situation and honestly more greenery doesnt only look good, its also great for cooling in the summer and for preventing the spread of particulate matter from cars to the residents. More diverse modes of transport also promote a healthier lifestyle and could lower costs of the healthcare system. And on top of that you lower congestion because cars just take so much more space.
Love the movement i'm seeing with american cities lately (although i'm sure my outlook is heavily clouded because my main source is youtube lol)
so, so exciting
greatvideo!!!!!
In video ads are like parking lots.
now build a freeway through it :)
no
Just one more lane bro, trust me
Is that you Robert Moses?
They already have a freeway through it. No need, they need a beltway
More cities need to expand their higher density downtown style development. Even small towns should work on adding to and expanding their "main street" style downtowns and allow for more residential and mixed development.
It's amazing to me how towns have found success revamping old downtown areas and found that they bring in tourism and have high property values and then instead of capitalizing on the high demand and appeal of these areas they just constrain that type of development to small preexisting sections of the city indefinitely and opt for endless suburban development and strip malls instead.
Alexander, this is great work as normal- thank you for another fantastic video!
I have to say I'm excited for the potential these projects have. The westside development is very interesting to see. The demolition of an old "projects" complex, built to oppress people and ridden with slum lord mentality for generations to prey on the impoverished people who have called it home and dealt with the issues to now something hopefully beautiful in addition to rehoming people into new developments there.
I think that kind of transition might prove to be uplifting for those people, while also letting the city heal a scar from history's wrong choices. I'm replacing such a long-neglected development will also prove good for their resources.
Just visted the city, some of that was done, including the re-use of the industrial buildings.
I’m 21 and I want to make a change in America not as a governor or president but if we all come together we could do it! We can stop urban sprawl and save the natural land, farms and forests we could push for better transit besides cars and last but not least build high density residential and walkable streets this is the future of America and it needs to happen we need to fix what we lost in the 1950s and 60s and improve for future generations to come
I love how you are uplifting urbanism and providing information on how the city of Savannah is taking a new step toward fixing many sprawling suburbs. However, my biggest problem with this video is that it neglects many of the black and low-income population in the city who will be pushed aside to fuel this new development. The development you talk about on the east side is actually a former free slave community built off the segregation of the town and is a middle-class area. Unless the new developments take into account that mixing together income brackets is incredibly important to max out the impact it will have on Savannah, it will only further grow gentrification and segregation within the city. The same is true for the east side development. Segregation is a significant reason why Savannah could not destroy many of the beautiful buildings you see now, and it still heavily is so. So, it's essential to recognize that Savannah and other cities like Charleston have the potential to pave the way for new urbanism but also reimagine how a city takes into account current residents by mixing together people of various backgrounds.
but still GREAT VIDEO and so happy you made on the city I live in
Yay my city !!
Savannah, where I live, is hell for the disabled. Historicity is more important than livability for people who might need a wheelchair, walker, or cane. I don't know how it might be for the blind and deaf, but I've indirectly heard that things aren't great for those disabilities either.
The new riverside district is difficult to navigate; there are neighborhoods without sidewalks. Let's start there rather than trying to get more living space around highly trafficked railroad tracks.
Wish Utah would do this
5:12 C2 😂😂😂
Looks very good, although there is no reason to attempt to fill transit service with a "trolley" 6:06 when existing bus service could be expanded. Unfortunately there is a bit of a stigma in the US about riding buses, but if the buses could be kept clean, punctual, and frequent, you could get more middle class people riding them and turn that around.
You should do Nashville next
Beautiful thumbnail, do you do the watercolor?
You should do Boston
Richmond next !
Looking at cities like Ruston and Lafayette LA dumping a major road into a city grid is NEVER a good idea
You forgot the new Scad building
Cool
Unfortunately, a lot of this is aspirational masterplanning without actual developers pushing for it. Once the developers step in, they usually push for more cookie-cutter three-story townhome or five-over-one apartment styles of development. After some back and forth, the developer usually gets what they want, with some minor tweaks requested by the city. So while Savannah has great aspirations, it needs to find developers willing to follow through on that vision.
3:47 that’s I-16
I think urbanists who don't talk about the history of the working class and marginalized groups within urban settings while discussing changes to be made to improve the city are really missing a huge part of the analysis needed to create equitable spaces.
The homeless population which is supported by the local government is out of control. I visited Savannah for the last time three weeks ago. Was constantly harrased to hand over money, watched a group of "savannahs very best" juveniles get into a fight right in front of my hotel, the Hyatt!!
With what jobs, it’s a tourist city with prices to match
A government decision can only go so far, you need developers to come build it. Great opportunity for someone who gets the vision.
Center is nice but urban sprawl is terrible.
Yeah the downtown is nice small clean walkable etc but get out of that you’re in another American suburbia
You're right. But Savannah's historic and walkable district extends further than most US cities it's size. I think they have a better base to work with.
0:50 Based, based, based.
i can goon to this
And this should be one of the best cities in the US? Damn… 😅
But no development going and Atlanta is the only focused city in the state. Savannah should be the 2nd largest city a long time ago.
I'm not from the U.S. but I'm glad this got recommended to me. Seeing all these utterly horrible sights all over the U.S. as you ruined your cities for wide roads and bad land use while you had gold on your hands as late as the 1950s is a right shame. Good to see these plans exist because if there's one country that direly needs to improve on its past mistakes, it's the U.S.!
Thank you for making this video and I hope Savannah will improve once these plans are executed!
After looking through Soviet history USA wasn’t alone turns out political ideology is not immune to horrible planning
Do NOT tell William Sherman
Sherman on February 28th at 11: 59: ….its time
Savannah should've been the capital
0:39 It seems pretty unfair to lump modernist architecture in with those other evils. There are good and bad examples of every architectural style.
Wow, as a European I feel corrected. America can have beautiful cities after all, even if still badly planned.
Shame it is more of an exception these days. NYC lost all of its ArtDeco/Classical glamourous look, while SF is just...a shithole with junkies.
I really hope that, in my lifetime, both the US and Canada would go back to having that "gem of the West" aura about them once again.
Eh. I live in SF, it;s not that bad. NYC still HAS the look, its just obstructed.
@@ravimediatube I was in both about 2 years ago. NYC has SOME of that still remaining, mostly with federal buildings...but the fact it is obstructed is essentially saying "it is dominated by awful post-modern stuff so you can't even admire how great it looked back in the 40s and 50s.".
Not to mention that I really didn't feel safe in these cities, with all those addicts and homeless shitting into the trash bin right in the city center.
Seeing both of these cities these days is really underwhelming and kinda sad because it shows you how much America has fallen off over the decades. For me it is no longer a place where I would want to settle any time soon.
@@DrAhzek I can respect that. But I'm sort of a glass-half-full person, so.
How do you feel about the sort of, Neo-Art Deco? Art Deco revival? type buildings of, for example, the Rose Hill Building, Brooklyn Tower, 45 Broad St, The Fitzroy .. all these in New York City. I'm hopeful enough, I guess.
New york city still adore its art deco design. The only problem, it is very dirty and too much crime .
San Francisco so still prettier overall
Stick to the plan and savannah will prosper, short term cash grabs never lead to long term sucess.
The biggest problem with all of this is crime. Nobody wants to live, at least with a family, in downtown Savannah because of crime. Nobody wants to take public transport if they can avoid it because of crime. There have been a number of times I've wondered around downtown Savannah going out of my mind with a full bladder because there are no public bathrooms. Why? Crime. That mass transit line you've identified? Who would want to ride it? Too much crime. Fix your people, fix their culture and this alone would go a long way in fixing your cities.
to reduce crime, you can't exactly "Fix people and culture to reduce crime." You have to change the reasons for why they commit these crimes and why many mindsets are the way they are. And I'm not going to sit here and act like crime isn't a major problem and so to certain parts of their culture. However, the city might need to start funding these schools better and investing in these communities instead of driving them out with new developments or placing all the blame on how these people are "broken or corrupted." They push the problem instead of rooting out the cause for it because, at the end of the day, the communities responsible for all this crime are also responsible for building up the savannah. Also, transit development often largely results in continued or more crime when ridership is decreased or neglected. If the city constructs transit that people use, there will be reduced crime and easier police presence. The transit would promote job creation and mix people together, so communities are not isolated from the education and different cultures of other people.
@@Jamot8toe PROGRAMS, PROGRAMS, PROGRAMS, it's been the constant answer since the Johnson administration. It's not working. It's a cultural issue at the root of the problem that we as a society try to ignore. Definitely a mindset issue, but no amount of school funding increase is going to fix this issue without deep cultural change.
@@scrappmutt2 All cultural issues in America, at least, come out of a group's positioning in the American economic system. If you want to change the mindset, you might want to start by integrating and desegregating places like Savannah and make it so race or economic class doesn't put you at a disadvantage. You can say all you want about how individuals can change their surroundings, but that only comes to them because they have positive outside forces. If a community is stuck in a cycle of stagnation and other troubles, don't expect them to magically change by individually deciding to end a certain way of thinking. Government policies are the only reason America, for every economic and racial group, is the way it is. These government policies either help uplift or destruct communities, and that's the bottom line. Just walking door to door and asking people you don't know to change their lifestyle only goes so far. If you want to change any part of a community's culture, the answer can usually be found through changing their living standards and ability to develop. Most criminals are criminals because they are poor, and they don't see any possibility of them making it out of an area through legal means. Big problems require big solutions, typically big bodies such as the government or church are instrumental historically in growing people and their communities
But yeah, a comment on a UA-cam channel probably isn't going to change how you view this nor will your response likely change mine so nice exchanging ideas on this topic with you
@@Jamot8toe”Most criminals are criminals because they are poor”.
Can you provide evidence of this?
Every single corrupt politician and public official that accepted bribery probably disagrees with you.
I live in The Netherlands were we have complete social integration, working social housing, access to education to everyone equally, human urban planning nevertheless our crime rates have been going up in the last two decades…
Denying that culture is an important factor, will never allow you to succeed, that is why you see so many american cities that have social programs fail and fail again.
I literally walk broughton st alone at 2am all the time and nothing has ever happened to me lol. Whoever wrote this comment is a paranoid schizo Karen freak lololoool
Savannah is so safe I think the commenter should visit philly/San Francisco
who is Savannah
Video starts at 3:00
They need to include affordable housing.
I love Savannah, but I wonder how many of this new housing will be affordable. I'm guessing not much.
Now European cities are starting to really mess up with their planning.
Savannah is miserable.
I like how drivers see plans like this, and worry about how they are going to waste both their time _and_ money if the plans get built. And don't forget how they want everyone else to go down with them too! That fatalist note is important in American culture, no?!