Downtown Savannah neighborhoods push back against plans to expand city's 'to-go cup' zone

"Our main concern is an increase in trash, an increase in noise, and increase in public intoxication."

"Our main concern is an increase in trash, an increase in noise, and increase in public intoxication."

HERE IS REWARDING...AND "THERE'S SIMPLY NO REASON TO STEP AWAY."/// NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATIONS BANDING TOGETHER ... TO STOP THE ALCOHOLIC - TO-GO - CUP - LIMITS ... FROM BEING EXPANDED IN SAVANNAH. THEY HAVE SENT A LETTER TO CITY LEADERS. THE CITY ... IS CURRENTLY PROPOSING TO EXPAND THE ZONE ... AS FAR AS VICTORY DRIVE ... AND WATERS AVE. WJCL 22 NEWS' LYDIA - BLACKSTONE IS LIVE IN OUR NEWSROOM. NEIGHBORHOODS SAY ... THEY DON'T WANT THIS ... BUT SOME LOCAL BUSINESSES DO./// PLACES LIKE BULL STREET THAT IS FILLED WITH RESTAURANTS AND BARS AS WELL AS SOME BARS IN THE STARLAND DISTRICT. BUT NEIGHBORHOODS DON'T THINK THIS WOULD WORK IN RESIDENTIAL AREAS AS IT'S PROPOSED IN A BLANKET OVERLAY. "IF YOU'RE A TOURIST, OF COURSE, YOU WANT TO BE ABLE TO DRINK ON OUR STREETS, RIGHT?" ((NANCY MAIA, PRESIDENT, VICTORIAN NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION)) ONE OF THE UNIQUE DRAWS TO THE HOSTESS CITY...THE ABILITY TO WALK WITH ALCOHOL ON DOWNTOWN STREETS. RIGHT NOW YOU CAN DO THAT ON POPULAR STREETS LIKE RIVER AND BROUGHTON...BUT A NEW PROPOSAL BRINGS IT A LITTLE CLOSER TO HOMES. "THIS EXPANSION PROPOSES THAT IT'S REALLY GOING TO BE THROUGHOUT OUR RESIDENTIAL NEIGHBORHOODS, AND WE FEEL LIKE THERE ARE SOME REALLY SERIOUS DOWNSTREAM EFFECTS THAT THAT WILL HAPPEN AND IMPACT OUR NEIGHBORS QUALITY OF LIFE." ((NANCY MAIA, PRESIDENT, VICTORIAN NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION)) 4 NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATIONS BANDED TOGETHER ON MONDAY TO SEND A LETTER OF DISAPPROVAL TO SAVANNAH CITY LEADERS SAYING THAT THIS WOULD ENCOURAGE A 'PARTY ATMOSPHERE' ON THEIR STREETS AND LEAD TO... "OUR MAIN CONCERN IS AN INCREASE IN TRASH, AN INCREASE IN NOISE AND INCREASE IN PUBLIC INTOXICATION." ((NANCY MAIA, PRESIDENT, VICTORIAN NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION)) PRESIDENT NANCY MAIA SAYS WHILE SHE THINKS THIS COULD WORK ON SPECIFIC STREETS LIKE BULL..NOT EVERY RESTAURANT WANTS THIS GREEN TRUCK PUB SAYING IN THE LETTER THAT THEY INTENTIONALLY OPENED AWAY FROM THE DOWNTOWN AREA... "WE INTENTIONALLY OPENED OUTSIDE OF THE TO-GO CUP ZONE, AWAY FROM DOWNTOWN, BECAUSE WE WANTED TO." BUT ALDERMAN NICK PLAUMBO SAYS HE SEES BOTH SIDES, AND A POTENTIAL BOOST IF RESTAURANTS WERE ALLOWED TO OFFER A DRINK TO GO "THIS IS A VERY ATTRACTIVE FOR BUSINESSES TO BE ABLE TO SELL MORE ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES AND TO GO CUP BEVERAGES, WHICH THERE'S HIGHER PROFIT MARGINS THERE FOR BEVERAGES AS WELL. ((ALDERMAN NICK PALUMBO, CITY OF SAVANNAH)) BUT AGREES THAT THE NEED TO TALK MORE WITH DOWNTOWN NEIGHBORHOODS BEFORE THIS IS PHASED IN... "I THINK NEIGHBORS BRING UP A LOT OF VERY VALID CONCERNS ABOUT IT TO GO CUP EXPANSION AND BUGS THAT THE CITY OF SAVANNAH HAS TO WORK OUT BEFORE ANY KIND OF PERMANENT FIX OR EXPANSION IS PURSUED. WITH SUCH A MASSIVE EXPANSION, I'D LIKE TO SEE AN INCREMENTAL STRATEGY." ((ALDERMAN NICK PALUMBO, CITY OF SAVANNAH)) THIS IS SOMETHING THAT HAS HAD BEEN TESTED BEFORE AND DOES EXPAND EVERY YEAR DURING ST. PATRICKS DAY...IT'S CURRENTLY NOT ON THIS WEEKS CITY COUNCIL AGENDA BUT SOMET

Downtown Savannah neighborhoods push back against plans to expand city's 'to-go cup' zone

"Our main concern is an increase in trash, an increase in noise, and increase in public intoxication."

On Monday, four downtown Savannah neighborhoods sent a letter to Savannah city officials opposing an ordinance to allow 'to-go' cup zones to expand to Victory Drive and Waters Avenue.Victorian Neighborhood President Nancy Maia says she thinks this change prioritizes tourists over locals."We feel like this is another opportunity that the city has to protect residential quality of life," Maia said.Currently, taking an alcoholic beverage to-go in a clear or aluminum container is legal on popular streets like Broughton, River, and throughout city squares.Who's pushing this? Alderman Nick Palumbo says Bull Street."This was really started by some of the businesses in the Bull Street corridor that would like to see the to-go cup expanded into their area as well," said Palumbo.While Maia agrees that it could work on streets like Bull, she doesn't think a blanket overlay is a good idea.“Our main concern is an increase in trash, an increase in noise, and increase in public intoxication,” said Maia.Alderman Palumbo says he sees both sides and that this could help some businesses that do want to participate."This is very attractive for businesses to be able to sell more alcoholic beverages and to-go cup beverages, which there's higher profit margins there for beverages as well," said Palumbo.Not every business wants this, like Green Truck Pub, who said in the letter:“We intentionally opened outside of the to-go cup zone, away from downtown, because we wanted to create a neighborhood spot... for our Savannah neighbors. Expanding the to-go cup zone as broadly as you're discussing will harm the residents that sustain us, our team, and our small business. We don't want our neighborhood downtown-ified so a few businesses can cater to tourists.” - Whitney Shephard and Josh Yates, Owners, Green Truck PubIt's not currently on Savannah City Council's agenda for this week, but Palumbo says further consideration and public feedback will be needed before they proceed."With such a massive expansion, I'd like to see an incremental strategy," said Palumbo.TRENDING STORIESReport: Chatham County deputy reached for his gun after being told he was being arrestedAuthorities: Warrant leads to discovery of 1,000 fentanyl pills by South Carolina elementary school'Weapons incident' at popular South Carolina vacation spot leads to police standoff

SAVANNAH, Ga. —

On Monday, four downtown Savannah neighborhoods sent a letter to Savannah city officials opposing an ordinance to allow 'to-go' cup zones to expand to Victory Drive and Waters Avenue.

Victorian Neighborhood President Nancy Maia says she thinks this change prioritizes tourists over locals.

"We feel like this is another opportunity that the city has to protect residential quality of life," Maia said.

Currently, taking an alcoholic beverage to-go in a clear or aluminum container is legal on popular streets like Broughton, River, and throughout city squares.

Who's pushing this? Alderman Nick Palumbo says Bull Street.

"This was really started by some of the businesses in the Bull Street corridor that would like to see the to-go cup expanded into their area as well," said Palumbo.

While Maia agrees that it could work on streets like Bull, she doesn't think a blanket overlay is a good idea.

“Our main concern is an increase in trash, an increase in noise, and increase in public intoxication,” said Maia.

Alderman Palumbo says he sees both sides and that this could help some businesses that do want to participate.

"This is very attractive for businesses to be able to sell more alcoholic beverages and to-go cup beverages, which there's higher profit margins there for beverages as well," said Palumbo.

Not every business wants this, like Green Truck Pub, who said in the letter:

“We intentionally opened outside of the to-go cup zone, away from downtown, because we wanted to create a neighborhood spot... for our Savannah neighbors. Expanding the to-go cup zone as broadly as you're discussing will harm the residents that sustain us, our team, and our small business. We don't want our neighborhood downtown-ified so a few businesses can cater to tourists.” - Whitney Shephard and Josh Yates, Owners, Green Truck Pub

It's not currently on Savannah City Council's agenda for this week, but Palumbo says further consideration and public feedback will be needed before they proceed.

"With such a massive expansion, I'd like to see an incremental strategy," said Palumbo.

TRENDING STORIES

Downtown Savannah neighborhoods push back against plans to expand city's 'to-go cup' zone

"Our main concern is an increase in trash, an increase in noise, and increase in public intoxication."

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