Key Takeaway
Savannah is advancing plans to redevelop its historic Railroad District into a mixed-use destination, reflecting a broader national shift toward adaptive reuse and culturally anchored urban development.
What Is Happening
The City of Savannah is evaluating a redevelopment of its Railroad District, located between the Civic Center and the Canal District near the Georgia State Railroad Museum. Early concepts include housing, retail, food and beverage, museum expansion, and event space, with a focus on preserving historic structures such as the roundhouse and rail facilities while increasing visitation and activating underutilized land.
RCLCO’s Role
RCLCO, in collaboration with EDSA, is under contract with the City of Savannah to conduct an economic and land use study for City-owned land within the historic Railroad District and surrounding Tricentennial Park. RCLCO’s role focuses on market and financial analysis to inform demand, feasibility, phasing, and the appropriate mix of uses, while considering integration with existing cultural assets and potential public-private partnership structures. This work includes stakeholder and community engagement to ensure recommendations are market-supported and aligned with City priorities, supporting decision-making on the scale, mix, and timing of redevelopment.
RCLCO Perspective
Redevelopment efforts like Savannah’s Railroad District reflect national trends in adaptive reuse, public-sector-led land activation, and the integration of cultural infrastructure into mixed-use districts. As Jake Ross, Managing Director, noted, “When we talk about development in this area, we’re not talking about replacing any entities. We’re talking about building on them so that there’s more things for people to do when they come before or after, more places for people to live nearby, or to just interact with the site.”
Implications
Mixed-use redevelopment of historic districts is increasingly driven by market-supported housing, experiential retail, and strong public-private coordination – particularly in markets with strong tourism, historic assets, and public-sector involvement.
Source
Evan Lasseter, Savannah Morning News, “Savannah considering new development within its historic Railroad District”, published March 1, 2026: https://www.savannahnow.com/story/news/local/2026/03/01/savannah-considering-new-development-within-its-historic-railroad-district/88905414007/
About RCLCO
Since 1967, RCLCO has been the “first call” for real estate developers, investors, the public sector, and non-real estate companies and organizations seeking strategic and tactical advice regarding property investment, planning, and development. RCLCO leverages quantitative analytics and a strategic planning framework to provide end-to-end business planning and implementation solutions at an entity, portfolio, or project level. With the insights and experience gained almost six decades and thousands of projects, RCLCO brings success to all product types across the United States and around the world. RCLCO is organized into three service areas: real estate economics, management consulting, and advisory services for institutional investors through RCLCO Fund Advisors. RCLCO is headquartered in Bethesda, MD and has offices in Austin, TX, Denver, CO, Los Angeles, CA, San Francisco, CA, New York, NY and Orlando, FL.