Historic Savannah Foundation Announces 2025 HSF Preservation Award Winners, Honors Brian Felder as Volunteer of the Year

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

SAVANNAH, Ga. (May 2, 2025) – Historic Savannah Foundation (HSF) – the leading nonprofit cultural institution dedicated to saving the buildings, places and stories that define Savannah’s past, present and future — celebrated its 70th anniversary by honoring the 2025 HSF Preservation Award winners at a special awards ceremony at the Charles H. Morris Center in Savannah, Ga. on May 1. In honor of National Preservation Month, HSF presented awards to individuals and organizations whose projects and contributions demonstrate the highest level of excellence for preservation in Savannah and Chatham County.

“Seventy years ago, Historic Savannah Foundation was formed to preserve the Davenport House, and today we’re honoring those who continue that legacy with rehabilitation and restoration projects that represent the pinnacle of preservation,” said Historic Savannah Foundation CEO and President Sue Adler. “This year’s award winners include beautifully restored properties and reclaimed parts of our history that have contributed to the overall quality of life in neighborhoods throughout the greater Savannah area.”

At the 2025 HSF Preservation Awards ceremony, Historic Savannah Foundation announced the following winners:

505, 507 and 509 W. 38th Street: A one-story double cottage and two-story Queen Anne-style duplex comprising half a block of the Cuyler-Brownville National Register Historic District had fallen victim to vacancy, blight and crime. These rehabilitations utilized state and federal tax incentives and serve as a catalyst, taking two long-vacant buildings within a block and creating five residential units, enhancing the appearance of the entire street and improving the quality of life for the neighbors while serving as a model for a preservation-minded approach to address blight. Brent Watts; Cabretta Capitol; Ward Architecture + Preservation; The Basin Company; Chatham Developers

Paulsen-Harrison-Oemler House, 111 E. 36th Street: Built in 1904, the Paulsen-Harrison-Oemler House is one of Savannah’s most intact homes designed by revered architect Hyman Witcover. The preservation team overcame significant challenges posed by the size and character of this rare example of asymmetrical Georgian Revival architecture, restoring the home to its original appearance and utilizing state and federal tax incentives to accommodate a mix of new uses, adding to the vibrant character of Savannah’s Thomas Square Streetcar National Register Historic District. Anthony Koncul; JAK Homes; Ward Architecture + Preservation

Shelby Myrick House, 2807 Abercorn Street: Constructed by famed architect Olaf Otto in 1914 for Savannah attorney Shelby Myrick, the interiors of this Neoclassical Revival-style home had been significantly altered over the years. This restoration project utilized archival documentation provided by the Myrick family to restore original exterior and interior character-defining features, allowing the property to once again serve as a notable single-family residence in Savannah’s Ardsley Park-Chatham Crescent National Register Historic District. Heather Beitz; Nathan Snyder; Proper Construction and Design; Ward Architecture + Preservation

 St. Luke’s Lutheran Church, 2716 Mechanics Avenue: Built in 1902, St. Luke’s Lutheran Church served as an architectural landmark in the Thunderbolt community for more than a century. Utilizing state and federal preservation tax incentives, this complex rehabilitation project focused on preserving the original sanctuary space and restoring Gothic-style architectural elements, resulting in a stunning adaptive reuse that converted this former church into a single-family residence with modern functionality. Cynthia Creighton-Jones and Alan Barnes; Hansen Architects; JDR Construction

 Emma C. Lee House, 538 E. Bolton Street: A contributing building within the Victorian National Register Historic District, the Emma C. Lee House stood vacant for more than 30 years. The preservation team navigated structural instability and limited space to restore this c.1914 villa’s period details while incorporating modern updates. The restoration of this historic home proves that even the most neglected structures can be reborn. Braeden & Shelby Scally

Kline Grocery, 508 Kline Street: Located in Savannah’s Cuyler-Brownville National Register Historic District, the Kline Grocery building was abandoned for 27 years before it was purchased by HSF’s Revolving Fund. Subsequently, the restoration of a c. 1874 property involved a sensitive rehabilitation, utilizing state and federal preservation tax incentives and adding affordable single-family housing in a community that is vital to the city’s African-American history. Brent Watts; Cabretta Capital; 508 Kline Street LLC; Lynch Associates Architects; Carroll Construction; Ward Architecture + Preservation

In addition, Historic Savannah Foundation’s Volunteer of the Year Award was presented to Brian Felder for his dedication to Historic Savannah Foundation through leadership, service and expertise. The founder of Felder & Associates architecture firm in Savannah is known for exceptional work in commercial and residential design as well as historic preservation. Felder and his team designed HSF’s Murray C. Perlman & Wayne C. Spear Preservation Center, an education and exhibition space connected to Historic Kennedy Pharmacy on Broughton Street. He also worked with Brooks Construction to restore the Historic Kennedy Pharmacy, create the award-winning Urban Enslaved Exhibit on the ground floor of the Davenport House Museum, and manage the interior and exterior restoration of HSF headquarters in the Sheftall Building.

Felder joined HSF’s Board of Trustees in 2009 and served in a variety of leadership roles, including Chair of the Architectural Review Committee, Executive Committee, Board Parliamentarian, Board Vice Chair and Board Chair. He also served as the Revolving Fund Committee Chair for nearly a decade, underscoring his commitment to furthering HSF’s mission to save and protect endangered historic properties throughout Savannah.

2025 HSF Preservation Award nominations were judged by an independent, all-volunteer panel of judges, including City of Savannah Preservation Officer Jessica Baldwin, SCAD alumnus Eli Lurie of Eli Lurie Antiques and Design and Sustainable Preservationist Scott Crotzer

The judges used the following general criteria to identify award winners:

• Quality and degree of difficulty of the nominee’s project or effort;
• Degree to which the nominee’s project or effort is unusual or pioneering, or serves as an example that influences good preservation practices; and
• Demonstrable or measurable impact of the nominee’s project on the community.

Lead HSF Preservation Award sponsors include Symphona Technology, Evans General Contractors, The Kessler Collection, Felder & Associates, Scally Design + Construct and Queensborough National Bank and Trust Company. Additional support is provided by Brad Baugh, Brooks Construction Group, LLC, Floor & Decor, Holton Plumbing, Inc., Lynch Associates Architects, PC, Ogeechee Heating & Air, Inc. and Sottile & Sottile.