Residents of a historic neighborhood at the intersection of East Broad and 38th Street are voicing strong concerns after the Metropolitan Planning Commission (MPC) approved a proposal that would cut parking at a nearby 36‑unit apartment complex. The change, which reduces the complex’s dedicated spaces from 36 to 29 and adds ten street‑parking spots, also earmarks the adjacent building for future use as a 102‑seat restaurant, though the petitioner says a restaurant is not intended at this time.
District 2 Alderman Detric Leggett, who lives a few blocks away, said he has asked the MPC to revisit the plan. “Round here having a parking spot is like having food,” Leggett told WTOC, emphasizing how essential parking is to daily life in the area. He noted that the proposal sparked a “fire storm on social media” because the site has long served as a community hub for exercise classes, dance lessons, and family gatherings.
Long‑time resident Virginia Mobley echoed the sentiment, describing the neighborhood’s infrastructure as unable to keep pace with the number of vehicles each household now owns. “You’re never going to come up with any solution at all,” Mobley said, adding that the community faces “a car problem.” She explained that residents already contend with bi‑weekly road sweeps and multiple tenants per house, likening the situation to “playing musical chairs four and five times a week.”
Other neighbors highlighted a recent increase in commercial buildings nearby, noting that the area remains one of the last predominantly residential sections of the district. Mobley said parking difficulties have become a reason some families consider moving away, recalling past comments from departing residents who cited parking, not crime or living conditions, as their primary grievance.
According to the MPC proposal, the future restaurant would accommodate 102 patrons, but the petitioner has stated that converting the space into a dining venue is not currently planned. Leggett clarified that the proposal will not advance to the Savannah City Council until an agreement is reached that the building will not become a restaurant and that the community supports the plan.
Residents emphasized that their concern centers on the broader issue of limited street parking, not the petitioner’s intentions. They urged ongoing monitoring of parking availability as development continues in the area.
What’s next: Alderman Leggett’s request for the MPC to re‑examine the proposal will be considered in upcoming commission meetings. The plan will remain off the Savannah City Council agenda until the commission and community reach an agreement on the building’s future use and parking provisions.
