Yamacraw Village Residents’ Voices Heard: Housing Authority Addresses Community Concerns

The Housing Authority of Savannah is poised to advance a controversial proposal to tear down Yamacraw Village, sparking concerns among those who call it home. Residents are anxious about the possibility of being unable to return once the demolition is complete.

According to officials, the public housing complex, which dates back to the 1940s, is in a state of disrepair that no longer meets today’s housing standards. Evette Hester, the Executive Director of the Housing Authority, noted that 97 families continue to reside in the area.

Although the agency has submitted a request for demolition to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, the process has been stalled due to the ongoing federal government shutdown.

“Constructed in 1941, these buildings fail to meet our current living standards,” Hester explained.

She further mentioned that during discussions with residents, many have expressed struggles with antiquated infrastructure.

“There was one lady who told me, I just want to move into a place where I can have a washer and dryer and don’t have to hang my clothes on a clothesline, or I want to be able to plug up two appliances at the same time without tripping the circuit.”

If the demolition plan is approved, the Housing Authority intends to replace the units with affordable and income-based housing, potentially mixed with some market-rate units. Hester said a developer would be hired to create a master plan that includes input from residents and community stakeholders.

“They will craft up a master plan and put all the particulars like how many units, the unit types, the amenities that are needed,” she said.

Hester emphasized that current families would have “first priority” when the new units become available, and she pushed back against rumors circulating in the community.

“Number one, we are not selling this property to SCAD. That’s number one,” Hester said. “Number two, as a part of our relocation process, families will not become homeless. We will have vouchers which allow the tenants to take some assistance that will allow them to rent in the private sector. And so, number three, this will always be a site of affordable housing.”

Hester said each household will be assigned a case manager, and once vouchers are issued, families typically secure new housing within four to five months, or about 120 to 150 days. Still, many residents say they want those commitments in writing before leaving their homes.

It’s not only residents expressing concern. First Bryan Baptist Church, one of the oldest historically Black congregations in the nation, sits within Yamacraw, and church leaders fear demolition vibrations could damage the structure.

“What I can say is that we will be hiring architects and engineers who will assess not just the site, but the surrounding properties and take the necessary precautions so it does not impact their structures,” Hester said.

The Housing Authority said more details will be released as the HUD review moves forward and community discussions continue.