Savannah's Waterfront

For many visitors and residents alike, it’s hard to image River Street without Rousakis Riverfront Plaza.

Since its dedication in 1977, the half-mile long plaza named for former Mayor John P. Rousakis, has given visitors a unique view of the historic buildings along the street and a front row seat to the massive cargo ships that glide up the Savannah River.

Before the project began, the waterfront was not much more than a mess of weeds, boulders and decaying wharves. There were less than a dozen businesses on the street, and the plaza area was at one point slated to become a massive parking lot.

Once the project was given the green light, the city of Savannah received $4.3 million in urban renewal funds from the federal government and the city contributed another $3 million, for a total of $7.3 million.