Savannah Area Neighborhoods
A brief description of Savannah area neighborhoods.
Compiled by Don Callahan, Keller-Williams Savannah Downtown.

 

Savannah definitely has a healthy serving of gays and lesbians. Although there is no gay ghetto in Savannah, many communities have a high concentration of gay men and lesbians residing in them. We have made some notes about some of the communities and our knowledge of them. Known for it’s diversity, settle in Savannah and you can have your choice of surrounding yourself with history, stepping back into small-town America, enjoying the security and luxury of a gated community or lazing the day away in a laid-back cottage at the beach. We have lots to choose from and we are proud of it all.

Historic District
Residents of Savannah’s Historic District can claim the city’s squares as their front yards. Historic homes in need of restoration are not as easy to come by in this area of town any longer, though newcomers will definitely find a good selection of restored homes. Much of the renaissance is the direct result of a very strong gay presence undertaking great preservation efforts downtown. New construction is also found in the form of townhouse condominiums crafted to blend into the historic atmosphere of the District. A new trend in downtown housing involves the conversion of space above retail establishments into apartments, and lofts, putting downtown Savannah fully in touch with this twenty-first century trend.

Beach Institute
The first community in Savannah in which blacks owned homes continues to be a diverse vibrant neighborhood of mixed cultural and architectural styles. Small quaint rowhouses, Victorian townhouses and plenty of “fixer-uppers” abound within neighborhoods packed with students, families, and fairies. Beach sets you outside of the high price tags of the rest of downtown, but within walking distance to parks, squares, bars, clubs and shops.

Victorian District
Just south of the Historic District, the Victorian district is attracting gay men and lesbian woman interested in restoring two-and three-story frame houses in need of repair. The houses are grand in style and the stock is readily available. The area is becoming more popular as the number of restorable houses in the Historic District declines.

Thomas Square (Or as we like to call it, The Starland Art District) www.starlandsavannah.com
Savannah’s trolley car district is currently very popular among students, gay people and young professionals. This area of town has seen a tremendous amount of revitalization in the recent past, partly linked to the restoration of the Starland Dairy building at Bull and 41st Streets. This square block area is slated to be a commercial hub for design and retail trades. You probably will not find more dumpsters and tradesman in any concentrated area of town. Check-out Starland's web site to learn more about this area of town!

Parkside
Adjacent to Savannah’s largest (but less famous) park-Daffin -- this neighborhood features charming cottages in a stable community anchored by the park and it’s activities, including a minor league stadium. Block parties, barbecues and cook-outs are common in this tight-knit community with many gays and lesbians. The park hosts Gay Volleyball every Sunday and is a popular locale for exercise, people watching and cruising.

Baldwin Park
Just a few short blocks with quite a few gay men and lesbian woman in one concentrated area. Baldwin Park is consistently recognized as Savannah’s “Best up-and-coming neighborhood” and is certainly one of it’s most diverse. University professors, students and more eccentric Savannahians reside in this community, known for it’s porch parties and strong Neighborhood Association. Particularly notable are the Craftsman Style Bungalows sprinkled throughout the neighborhood.

Ardsley Park
As part of Savannah’s first automobile suburb, Chatham Crescent laid out in 1911, Ardsley Park is a handsome, established residential community with a mixture of prestigious four- and five-bedroom mansions and quaint, craftsman-style bungalows situated on tree-lined streets. The Ardsley Park area is one of the city’s favored communities with young professionals and families. The southern blocks (50th-55th) have become quite a popular area with lesbians.

Kensington Park
This community on the Southside of Savannah has well appointed ranch style houses that were packed with the finest amenities when constructed. Drive through the neighborhood and immediately you will notice it was very well planned and is quite pleasing on the eyes with it’s tremendous tree canopy. The gay community in Kensington Park often cap off early evenings with a cocktail social from house to house.

Gordonston
This secluded neighborhood in eastside Savannah is similar to Ardsley Park in character, but it’s considerably smaller and hasn’t been “discovered” to the extent that its “big brother” to the West has. Massive oaks draped with Spanish moss, quaint streets and sizable homes all offer gays and lesbians a tranquil respite close to downtown Savannah.

Tybee Island
Eighteen miles from Savannah, Tybee Island draws gays and lesbians from throughout Georgia and the rest of the Southeast. Tybee is full of restaurants, hotels and motels, condominiums and quaint rental cottages, along with a sizable residential area. Modern homes mixed with beachfront bungalows add to the eclectic, free and easy “life is a beach” lifestyle that lends itself to gay beach parties, lesbian potlucks (lots of lesbians), and volleyball tournaments all year round.