City of Savannah: Official News, Events & Community Updates
- Partial Civic Center parking lot closed throughout project; public parking via Barnard Street; construction access from Liberty Street.
- Johnny Mercer Theatre, lobby, ballroom, and meeting rooms remain open and fully operational during construction.
- Project will demolish Martin Luther King, Jr. Arena while preserving the theatre; initial work includes asbestos and lead abatement and relocation of kitchen and concessions.
City Council Approves Civic Legacy – Arena Removal Project; Partial Parking Lot Closure Set for Mid-March
SAVANNAH – City Council approved a $10.9 million Guaranteed Maximum Price (GMP) for the Civic Legacy – Arena Removal Project at the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Civic Center. With approval secured, construction activities will begin March 18, starting with an exterior fence, interior work and site preparation.
A portion of the Civic Center parking lot will be closed to accommodate construction staging and laydown activities. The partial closure will remain in place throughout the project.
While work will be underway on site, the most noticeable impact to the public during the first several months will be the parking lot closure rather than visible exterior demolition.
What Visitors Can Expect
- A designated portion of the Civic Center parking lot will be closed beginning March 18.
- Construction traffic will access the site from Liberty Street.
- Public parking access will be from Barnard Street only.
- The Johnny Mercer Theatre, lobby, ballroom, and meeting rooms will remain open and fully operational throughout construction.
City staff will work to minimize disruptions and maintain clear signage to guide visitors safely to available parking and entrances.
Project Overview and Timeline
The project involves the careful demolition of the Martin Luther King, Jr. Arena while preserving and maintaining full operations at the Johnny Mercer Theatre and associated lobby spaces. Initial construction activities will focus on interior work, including required asbestos and lead abatement and relocation of the Theatre’s kitchen and concession area.
Visible demolition of the arena structure is anticipated to begin in summer 2026. The overall project is expected to take approximately 13 months to complete.
Reeves Young, LLC is serving as the Construction Manager at Risk for the project and has committed to meeting the City’s participation goals, including 21.3% Disadvantaged Business Enterprise participation and 15.5% local DBE participation.
The Civic Legacy – Arena Removal Project marks the first major step in the long-term revitalization of the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Civic Center site, as established by Mayor and Council in June 2024.
Additional updates, including a detailed site logistics plan, will be shared as they become available.
Read the full announcement on the official site
