Savannah’s City Council voted unanimously to move forward with a mixed‑use development on the 66‑acre former Coastal Empire Fairgrounds in the city’s 5th District, a project the council says will help ease the city’s housing shortage.

According to WTOC, the plan includes 15 affordable single‑family homes and a senior‑living complex that is already under construction. Alderwoman Dr. Estella Shabazz, Mayor Pro‑Tem, said the senior complex is slated to be completed in less than a year, while the affordable homes will be built quickly to meet demand.

The development also envisions an urgent‑care facility, a recreational sports center, a learning studio, and a lake with surrounding trails. Shabazz highlighted the learning studio’s focus on future‑oriented training, noting, “Technology that’s going to be able to train our young people for the future. This AI thing is taking over, listen, you’re gonna come to the fairgrounds and get trained on how to move forward.”

Community input shaped the project. Shabazz held 14 public meetings with district residents before finalizing the plan, emphasizing that “it is what the community was very clear on in having housing that’s affordable.” The public’s emphasis on affordable housing drove the inclusion of the 15 single‑family homes.

The site has been in planning for more than a decade. Shabazz noted that the land was zoned for this type of development back in 2024 and that she has worked with five different city managers to bring the project to this point.

What’s next? Construction on the senior complex continues, with completion expected within the next year. The city will begin building the affordable homes later this year, and officials plan to break ground on the urgent‑care facility and recreational amenities in early 2027. The council will monitor progress at its regular meetings and provide updates to residents as milestones are reached.

Sources: wtoc.com