Due to rain and storms predicted through this afternoon, the Ellis Square grand opening is postponed until 1 p.m. Friday, March 12. The Friday event will be tented, and will be held rain or shine.
All citizens are invited to attend. The event will feature free food provided by nearby restaurants, music, a mass ribbon cutting, the premiere of a documentary on Ellis Square, and several other surprises.
Taking center stage, of course, will be Ellis Square – one of Gen. James Oglethorpe’s original six squares. The space has housed several City Markets through the years, as well as a private above-ground parking garage for the past half-century. Through an innovative partnership between the City and private developers that resulted in the 1,100-space underground Whitaker Street Garage, as well as hotel, retail and condo space, the square has once again been restored to public use.
The square’s design honors the legacy of Savannah’s world-famous 275-year-old Town Plan while launching the public space into the new century. Ellis features a unique ellipses interior, interactive fountain, life-sized chess board and movable furniture. It is the most environmentally friendly of Savannah’s squares, with water-efficient plants, energy-efficient lighting and HVAC system in the glass-walled visitors center, and a green roof on the public bathrooms to help reduce runoff. Dozens of citizens helped create that design at almost 20 public charrettes held across the City.
This event is free and open to the public.
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