News Feed

In an announcement tonight, Savannah College of Art and Design says it will close its decade-old campus in Hong Kong.

"In recent months, SCAD has given careful thought to the future of our Hong Kong location. The university prioritizes student safety and academic quality above all else, and after a comprehensive analysis, SCAD has decided to discontinue instruction at our Hong Kong location after the Spring 2020 quarter concludes. SCAD Hong Kong will continue to teach classes virtually through the end of the Spring 2020 quarter."

The building which SCAD restored and used for classes will be turned over.

"When SCAD's lease on the magistracy building expires this summer, the university will return the building to the Hong Kong Development Bureau, who will determine the historic landmark's next purpose," SCAD says.

On the issue of current students, SCAD says "All of the degree programs offered at SCAD Hong Kong are taught at other SCAD locations and/or online via SCAD eLearning. We plan to offer each student in good standing an opportunity to transition to SCAD Atlanta, SCAD Savannah, or SCAD eLearning to continue progressing toward their degrees."

Read more here. 

The Savannah College of Art and Design announced this morning that all Spring Quarter classes will be online-only, and Spring 2020 commencement cermonies have been canceled.

This decision applies to all SCAD campuses.

"As you know, the university has made the difficult decision that out of concern for the health and well-being of our students, faculty and staff, and in adherence with the most current guidelines from the World Health Organization and Centers for Disease Control, we will not hold regular, on-ground classes in Atlanta, Hong Kong, Savannah or Lacoste during the spring quarter, and all classes will be held online," a SCAD spokesperson says.

"In addition, spring break will be extended by one week, in order to help students who need to make travel arrangements. Spring classes will begin online on Monday, March 30, 2020 for students at all locations, and the spring quarter will be condensed in order to end on the original date, Thursday, May 28. Spring 2020 commencement ceremonies have been canceled at all SCAD locations. In addition, all spring activities like Sidewalk Arts Festival, Family and Alumni Weekend, and intercollegiate athletics have been canceled; more information will be forthcoming."

The Georgia Department of Public Health (DPH) is awaiting confirmatory testing from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) on five new presumptive positive cases of COVID-19 in Georgia. The additional cases are in Charlton County, Fulton County and three in Cobb County.

All but one individual (Fulton) are hospitalized. One of the Cobb presumptive positives has a travel history outside of the country, the sources of the other infections are unknown.

Confirmed cases of COVID-19 and presumed positive cases of COVID-19 are broken down by county as follows:

Confirmed COVID-19 (6)

Fulton County 3

Floyd County 1

Polk County 1

Cobb 1

Presumptive Positive COVID-19 (16)

Fulton 3

Cobb 6

Fayette 1

DeKalb 2

Gwinnett 2

Cherokee 1

Charlton 1

Late Tuesday evening, Governor Kemp and Georgia Emergency Management and Homeland Security (GEMA) Director Homer Bryson provided an update on seven emergency mobile units being deployed to Hard Labor Creek State Park in Morgan County.

The Governor's Office confirmed "that the first patient, an individual from Cherokee County who has tested positive for the virus, has now been isolated on the state park grounds in one of the mobile units," a spokesperson says.

"The individual was not able to isolate at their primary residence and was not in critical condition requiring any hospital admittance. State public health officials determined that a specific part of Hard Labor Creek State Park would be best suited for isolation as the individual is treated by medical professionals."

"This site was specifically chosen for its isolation from the general public and ability to house mobile units in the short term," said GEMA Director Homer Bryson. "State public health staff will monitor the individual's progress and work together with state law enforcement to ensure the safety of the community and the patient."

The isolated site at Hard Labor Creek State Park is closed to public access and closely monitored twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week by state law enforcement.

Connect Savannah can confirm reports from earlier this afternoon that both the City of Savannah 'Festival of St. Patrick' this weekend and the St. Patrick's Day Parade on Tuesday have been potentially "postponed," and possibly canceled, due to the coronavirus pandemic.

However, no other events have been canceled as of this time.

A statement by the Tourism Leadership Council made the rounds announcing the events being canceled for their scheduled dates this weekend and March 17.

The decision was made at some point earlier this afternoon in meetings with local leaders and members of the St. Patrick's Day Parade Committee, a private organization.

The Savannah City Council will hold an "emergency" meeting at 5:30 Wednesday to discuss the matter, followed by a press conference with Mayor Johnson and local leaders at 6 p.m.

As late as 4 p.m., some members of City Council were unaware of the meeting or any decisions that might have been made.

All the major St. Patrick's Day parades in the United States have announced cancellations over the past few days, including New York, Chicago, Boston, and New Orleans.

We will provide updated information as it's available.

Chatham Area Transit says it "will no longer be providing shuttle services to downtown on St. Patrick’s Day as a result of the decision to cancel the parade and to help prevent the spread of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19)."

However, CAT will provide free rides on Saturday, March 14 & Tuesday, March 17.

"The transit agency will not provide special shuttle services to downtown on St. Patrick’s Day as a result of the decision to cancel the parade and to help prevent the spread of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) but CAT will now operate its buses, CAT mobility vans, and water ferry on the regular weekday schedule on St. Patrick’s Day," a spokesperson says.

"Regular service routes and schedules also will be in place through the weekend, March 13-15, following the cancellation of the Festival of St. Patrick.

In a brief meeting today, Savannah Mayor Van Johnson and local health and public safety officials made an effort to assure the public that the local St. Patrick's Day festivities are unlikely to be severely impacted by the spreading coronavirus/COVID-19 pandemic.

"Currently there is no evidence that COVID-19 is spreading in our community," said Robert Thornton of the local chapter of the Georgia Department of Public Health. "If you're sick, we're asking you stay home."

The City's Susan Broker said the event is "full speed ahead."

"This is a very serious health concern but sometimes the fear is often worse than that," Mayor Johnson said. "I've lived during a time when SARS was going to kill everybody, Mad Cow disease, Ebola. The resilience of the human spirit is bigger than that."

Visit Savannah President Joe Marinelli said local hotel occupancy is still robust, and that "unless headlines change dramatically" no major change is expected.

Officials with both the City and Savannah's Waterfront say hand-washing/sanitizing stations will be added throughout the festival area.

A representative of the St. Patrick's Day Parade Committee says "kissing of the soldiers" is strongly discouraged, referring to a long local tradition of people running up to soldiers and other uniformed personnel marching in the parade to leave lipstick on their cheeks.

That practice has been discouraged by the U.S. Army and by parade officials for several years now regardless.

Mayor Johnson said he will check in with the Department of Public Health for updates at least twice a day until the festival. "As you know the situation is touch-and-go at this point."

The Mayor advised citizens to "bring your hand sanitizer... and don't kiss people you don't know."

Historic Savannah Foundation (HSF) has announced the results of its search for a new permanent President & CEO.

"After careful deliberation, the search committee, together with the board of trustees, unanimously determined that Interim Executive Director, Sue Adler should be appointed to lead the 65-year- old non-profit organization," the HSF announces this morning.

Formerly HSF’s Chief Mission Officer, Adler has worked as Interim Executive Director of the organization since the Summer of 2019 after the departure of Daniel Carey.

"She has many professional accomplishments in the local community including establishing Savannah’s Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure and fighting for Savannah’s tiniest citizens as Executive Director of the Savannah Chapter of the March of Dimes. Adler also directed community outreach events for Savannah’s Memorial Hospital, launching unique programs for the community," HSF says.

“Like all good leaders, Sue is committed to developing her team and working closely with the board of trustees to lead Historic Savannah Foundation into the future. Sue is the right person to bring the community together at this critical time for Savannah as it experiences unprecedented growth,” said Josh Brooks, Chair of the Board of Trustees of HSF.

Separate sources indicate that the investment group behind the Eastern Wharf development plans to continue with construction after Thursday's devastating fire at a residential portion of the development — embers of which are still burning Friday morning.

"My understanding is the developers plan to rebuild," said Mayor Van Johnson at Thursday's City Council meeting — the first evening meeting in living memory, after a schedule change to allow more citizens to attend.

An attorney for the developers also confirmed the development will go ahead.

"The developers of Eastern Wharf are committed to this project" and will continue building it, said attorney Harold Yellin during a Council discussion of a new signage ordinance for Eastern Wharf.

The sprawling site just east of the Historic District — twice as large in area as Forsyth Park — is its own Planned Unit Development (PUD), and as such can develop its own internal ordinances separate from other areas of the city.

Last night's decision on signage, however, was delayed a month to give time for more citizen input and for First District Alderwoman Bernetta Lanier to become more involved.

Mayor Johnson said of the blaze that  "a ton of mud and a complicated layout have made it especially difficult" for first responders. "I thank God no one was hurt... I cannot tell you how proud I am of not only our professional firefighters, but our police officers on site."

In the wake of the fire, concerns emerged about taxpayers' stake in the project — $33 million in City bonds to pay for the parking garage immediately adjacent to where the fire blazed.

"The City has no financial stake in this project until we accept the garage when the construction is complete," responded Mayor Johnson.

Savannah Fire Department says that "investigators will resume interviews of construction crews in the morning with the assistance of the ATF National Response Team. The ATF National Response Team has offered to assist with resources for a large scale fire scene investigation."

The new and highly touted Eastern Wharf development, still under construction just east of the Savannah Historic District, was the site of an enormous blaze late Thursday morning, with the Savannah Fire Department containing the fire for the most part by early afternoon.

No injuries were reported in the fire.

The fire was in the hotel/residential area of Eastern Wharf, contiguous with the parking garage, also under construction.

The area is adjacent to the Marriott Riverfront, and was clearly visible from President Street as well as from the Trustees Garden area.

Roads in the immediate area were closed down, and citizens are urged to avoid that side of downtown if at all possible.

As of 6 p.m. Thursday evening, Gen. McIntosh Blvd. was still closed to traffic. East Broad at East Bay is closed for eastbound traffic only. Broughton at East Broad is closed for northbound only. President at Rudolph is closed for northbound traffic.

Savannah Fire indicated that indications are the fire started in the fifth floor of the construction site. 911 was called by construction workers who noticed smoke.

Savannah Fire responded immediately, with a total of 20 units eventually responding. About an hour after the blaze started, their Marine 1 firefighting vessel was staffed and also helping to contain the fire.

Marine 1 had been slated for complete mothballing by the previous City Council and City Manager in order to cut costs, but a crew was available to staff it today.

As the fire worked its way to the rear of the building, fire crews were able to gradually contain it.

Some embers from the fire were caught in the wind and taken across President Street, but were quickly put out.

As the fire first blazed, a citizen driving west on President Street took a video of a Savannah Fire truck on the way to the scene being stopped by the northbound train that often crosses President Street, and having to wait with other traffic.

Eastern Wharf is on the site of the former Savannah River Landing mixed-use development, an investment which went under after the recession of 2008.

City taxpayers underwrote over $30 million worth of bonds for parking facilities at Eastern Wharf, approved by the previous Council.

We will update this story as developments occur.