Atlanta-based Jamestown Properties broke ground Thursday morning on a $25 million renovation of the 124,000 square-foot property that once served as the home of the old Savannah Ice Factory on the corner of Victory and Bull streets.
District Five Alderman Estella Shabazz served as the groundbreaking ceremony’s keynote speaker and addressed the positive impacts the project will have on the surrounding community.
Jamestown Properties will transform two late 19th century buildings at the intersection into a fully furnished 114-unit multi-dwelling residential facility equipped with an on-location cafe.
“We are very excited to be making a significant investment in the community through the launch of the project,” said Katharine Kelly, Jamestown Properties’ managing director for development and construction.
Although the design of the community, which will include amenities such as a fitness center, an art studio, a media center, a study hall, outdoor patios and courtyard spaces, is largely student focused, leasing options will be available for the general public, Kelly said.
“Our vision is for 1 West Victory to be a very walkable, sustainable mix of really vibrant residential units in combination with a restaurant that we hope and think will serve as a great addition to the already dynamic Savannah food scene,” she said. “So in many ways we think of this as a way to honor the best of the old and the new.”
The project is also largely focused on creating an environmentally friendly community that will be certified for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design by the United States Green Building Council.
“We are looking to a holistic approach to sustainability, which includes optimizing walkability and bicycle facilities for the residents and visitors, low-flow water fixtures, energy-efficient lighting and HVAC systems, responsible management of our site work and construction processes, and even down to the property management of the project where we work with sustainable suppliers and recyclers,” Kelly said.
The residential component of One West Victory is schedule for completion by summer 2014, while the restaurant is slated to open the following spring.
