City of Savannah, Partners to Save Historic Kiah House

SAVANNAH, Ga. - Aug. 24, 2023 - PRLog -- Savannah (Aug. 24, 2023) – Galvan Foundation (https://galvan.org/), a mission-driven organization with several Savannah-based initiatives, and the City of Savannah (https://www.savannahga.gov/), have agreed to purchase the Kiah House (https://www.georgiatrust.org/places-in-peril/kiah-house-museum/) property, located at 505 W. 36th St., from the Historic Savannah Foundation (HSF) (https://www.myhsf.org/) and restore it as a cultural and civic institution. The City's portion of the funding for this initiative will be subject to approval of the Savannah City Council (https://www.savannahga.gov/387/Mayor-City-Council).

Using its revolving fund that has helped save more than 420 historic buildings in Savannah over the years, Historic Savannah Foundation (HSF) requested
community proposals and selected these partners to restore the historic Kiah House and put it to use for the community.

In their proposal to HSF, the Galvan Foundation and the City of Savannah outlined plans to partner with the African Diaspora Museology Institute (https://www.facebook.com/ADMIResearch/) and "to restore the former Kiah House Museum building to the 'Kiah Period,' establish a Kiah-inspired creative arts program that embraces the community and its future, and thus reinstate its status as an important community asset." Further details about plans for the building's future will be available once the sale of the property closes.

HSF purchased the deteriorating property at 505 W. 36th St. in the Cuyler-Brownsville Community (https://www.myhsf.org/what-we-do/historic-districts/cuyle...) in April 2022, utilizing its revolving fund. With the
purchase price of $100,000 paid by the Galvan Foundation and the City of Savannah, that investment will go back into HSF's revolving fund to use in
rescuing other historic structures. Galvan and the City estimate a total project cost of $1.2 million.

The Kiah House initiative builds on significant recent commitments to community development in Cuyler-Brownsville. In November 2022, Galvan collaborated with the City of Savannah to commit $1 million to provide local homeowners with low-interest loans for home repairs, and a $5 million investment to build and renovate 25 properties.

The late Victorian/Queen Anne style structure, with elements of the late 19th and early 20th century American Craftsman movement, was built in 1913. It was significantly altered in 1959 when artist Virginia Kiah remodeled her long-time residence to include a museum. The home had fallen into disrepair following Mrs. Kiah's death in 2001.