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Vol VI Issue 30
April 19, 2011
Previous Issues
In Seductive Savannah, Georgia,
Retirees Discover a Treasure Trove of Historic Homes, a Lively
Cultural Scene, Old Fashioned Southern Charm and Nearby Ocean
Recreation
Cost of Living: Below the National Average
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In 1733, General James Oglethorpe, a
representative of England's King George II, came upon
the mouth of the Savannah River and founded the town of Savannah (population 135,000). The
fledgling community soon became the colonial capital of Georgia
and was the site of the bloody
Siege of Savannah during the Revolutionary War.
Cotton production eventually brought the city great
wealth, but in 1864, during the Civil War, General
Sherman captured Savannah and offered it to President
Lincoln as a Christmas present. After the boll
weevil wrecked havoc on King Cotton in the early
1900s, the city lost its way as historic buildings were
bulldozed and the population declined.
Alarmed by what was happening to their home, citizens
banned together in 1979 and began a preservation
push. Their efforts were helped considerably by
the 1994 publication of the best selling novel Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil.
Soon Savannah and its treasure trove of historic
buildings were attracting national attention.
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Today tourists come to this elegant metropolis to experience
its diverse culture, eclectic culinary scene, mild climate and old
fashioned Southern hospitality. Savannah,
once on the decline, is now happily
flourishing as an architectural showcase and is fiercely
proud of its rich heritage and romantic character. It
is distinctly Southern in a way towns just a state away are not, overflowing
with Ivy and wisteria,
bountiful gardens behind ornate wrought-iron gates and grand
antebellum homes. Tall oak trees draped in
Spanish moss create a slightly eerie landscape, and a hint of
mystery tingles the senses. Of the people who call the city
home, 34% are age 45 or better, and more of them vote Democratic
than Republican. The cost of living is 10%
below the national average.
Savannah is recognized as
the first planned city in the country, and in 1966
it was named a National
Historic Landmark District, claiming one of the nation's most valuable
living collections of 18th century and 19th century architecture.
There are 100 separate neighborhoods in six
general sections, and the famous, utterly charming downtown, a
source of civic pride and a model of restoration excellence with
its 22 distinct original squares, resembles a small, orderly European
colonial city with cafes, churches, art galleries, fresh food
markets, boutiques, parks, micro breweries, river views and
pedestrian traffic. This delightful historic urban
center, with its tree-lined streets, has no tall buildings and is
very walkable. A great restaurant seems to be on
every corner, and the
clip-clop of horse drawn carriages reminds one of a more
gracious time now long gone.
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Even with all of its charm, Savannah real estate is
reasonably priced, although old,
rambling mansions that were falling apart 30 years ago can now be
found selling for millions of dollars. The median home price is
$150,000, and most neighborhoods are lush and tidy. The downtown area is arguably the most popular place to live
(and one could do so without ever venturing into the rest of the
city). Nicely restored Victorians (homes, not
people) with a wraparound porch, steep gables and a parlor can
be found in the mid-$100,000s. Renovated 3-story Greek Revivals
with a private porch, a carriage house and a walled garden start at roughly $300,000.
Small, charming 1920s restored condominiums with hardwood floors and
off-street parking can be found for $125,000. Of course,
many homes - condos, town homes and single family homes - in the downtown
district go for much, much more.
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Not everyone lives downtown,
however, and an area popular with
retirees is the Southside neighborhood where homes are newer,
ranch-style and generally more affordable, with prices starting in
the low-$100,000s for modest but well kept dwellings.
Ardsley Park, Savannah's first suburb, is full of lovely mansions
and bungalows. Several beautiful gated golf communities, including Southbridge, Savannah Quarters
and The Enclave, offer elegant living and resort-style amenities.
Savannah has 26 manufactured home
parks, with prices starting at around $15,000 for an older, 2
bedroom home. Apartments are also available and start at
about $600 per month for a simple, one bedroom unit. More
commonly rents in the $700-$800 per month range for larger,
nicer one bedroom units, and $800-$900 a month for 2 bedroom
units.
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This is an interactive map.
Click on the arrows in the upper left hand
corner to move the map to the East, West, North or South, and
click on the +/- signs (more than once if necessary) to zoom
in and out.
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The annual taxes on a $150,000 home are approximately $1,845.
Homeowners age 62 and better who earn less than $10,000 per year receive a $10,000
school tax exemption. If their income does not exceed $30,000 they may qualify for
a partial exemption from state and county
property taxes. Homeowners who are age 65 or better and who earn $10,000 or
less per year may have
$4,000 of their property's value exempt from state and county taxes as
well. There is also a standard homestead exemption. Social
Security is exempt from state income tax, and people age 62 or better may
receive a tax adjustment on income of less than $40,000 per year. Civil War era
cemeteries, 150 year old churches and 10 museums ensure that there is always
something to explore. There are ghost tours, home tours, garden tours,
trolley tours, river festivals and riverboat cruises. The city boasts a
thriving arts culture, thanks in large part to the Savannah College of Art and
Design. With 70 buildings throughout the city, SCAD makes its presence
known, and it presents the Savannah Film Festival, the Sidewalk Arts Festival
and a fashion show each year (Savannah has been named a top arts town by at
least one national publication). The school also has athletic
events. The Savannah Philharmonic Orchestra, the Savannah Theater and
the Savannah Shakespeare Festival add to Savannah's cultural identity. The open air City Market, which
dates from the 1700s, has an eclectic selection of shops, galleries, art studios
and specialty food retailers. Three WalMarts add more shopping options. Two
culinary schools offer classes and routinely send eager new chefs out into the
community (TV chef Paula Deen resides here, too). Live Oak Public Library has
three branches, one an old Carnegie library, and all have free public wifi
access. Savannah remains a port city, and the waterfront is great
fun for people watching, dining and shopping. Known as "Savannah's beach," pretty Tybee Island is
just 20 minutes east and provides sand and surf, not to mention seafood
festivals, sand art competitions, wine festivals and a celebrity or two.
Savannah has three major hospitals, one of which is
award-winning. Memorial University Medical Center, noted for its
clinical excellence in 2011, is a teaching hospital and has nearly 500
beds. It is also a Level I Trauma Center and accepts both Medicare and
Medicaid patients. St. Joseph's Hospital has 215 beds and also accepts
Medicare and Medicaid patients. Candler Hospital has 235 beds and
accepts Medicare and Medicaid patients as well. For military retirees,
the city has an outpatient clinic (the nearest VA hospital is in Charleston,
South Carolina, 85 miles north).
Catham Area Transit (CAT)
provides local bus service, and the company says that 90% of
residents are within walking distance of a bus stop. The fare is
$1.50 (seniors ride for $.75). There is also
a free trolley in the downtown district, and a ferry service traverses the
river.
Amtrak has trains to Miami and New York City, and
Savannah/Hilton Head
International Airport is just west of the city. Major airlines include
Delta, Continental Express and U.S. Airways.
The city's Recreation Services Department manages the Golden Age Program ($5
per year), a program for the 55+ crowd that is carried out at 12 separate senior
centers. There are classes of all kinds, as well as congregate meals, guest speakers,
trips and more. Meals on Wheels also has a
strong presence.Summer
temperatures are in the 70s, 80s and 90s. It is humid - the city ranks well
below the national average on the comfort scale, a combination of temperature
and humidity. Winter temperatures are usually in
the 50s and 60s. It rains 3 to 7 inches each month
(with the highest amounts in the summer), and the sun shines 215 days of the
year. The city has seen its share of hurricanes and tropical storms and on average
is at least brushed by a major storm every two years. The air
quality and water quality are both below the national
averages.
Retiring in Savannah does have some drawbacks. The city has a higher than average crime rate, a problem
that may be traceable to its higher than average poverty rate.
Much of Savannah is
undergoing a renaissance, but not all areas of the city have been
renovated and some neighborhoods should be avoided. Six million tourists descend each
year, clogging restaurants and inns. The city is prone to flooding, although four canals have been
built to mitigate the problem. Open containers of alcohol
are allowed year round in the downtown district, which some people may find
objectionable.
And yet nearly everyone who comes to Savannah falls in love
with it. Its drawbacks are not insignificant, but weighed against its
authentic Southern style, beautiful homes, nearly mystical trees, river
setting, abundant senior centers, energetic cultural scene and richly textured
history, Savannah is a tempting spot for retirement, indeed.
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