Ellis Square in Savannah

IDUS 215

Contextual Research Methods

Huey Park & Tiffany Slieff

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Gathering General Information

Before

Going to Field

Georgia

Savannah

Downtown

Square

Georgia>Savannah>Downtown>Squar

e

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GEORGIA

• Capital city: Atlanta

• Population: 9th most populated state in the U.S,

( 9,072,576 residents in 2005)

• Atlanta, Augusta, Savannah, and Columbus are the four largest cities in Georgia.

• Climate: typical of a humid subtropical climate (hot summer and mild winter)

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Population Estimates

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SAVANNAH, GEORGIA

• The city established in 1733 by General James Oglethorpe

• The first state capital of Georgia

• Population: 313,000residents in 2005

• 3rd largest metropolitan area in Georgia, 148th largest metropolitan area in the U.S.

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• Savannah was founded in 1733 by General James

Oglethorpe

• Original plan called for only 6 squares

• Ellis, Johnson, Telfair, and Wright Squares are completed in

1733. (Reynolds in 1734 and Oglethorpe in 1742)

• The original plan allowed for growth of the city and thus

expansion of the grid; additional squares were added during

the 18th and 19th centuries, and by 1851 there were 24

squares in the city.

• However, Elbert, and Liberty Squares are classified as "lost

squares," destroyed in the course of urban development during

the 1950s. The squares were paved over to make way for U.S.

highway 17.

SAVANNAH DOWNTOWN, GEORGIA

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SAVANNAH DOWNTOWN SQUARE, GEORGIA

• Goal of the designing squares: comfortable atmosphere and gathering place

• The squares are 200ft from north to south and vary in size west to east. Maximum square is 300.

• Each square can be accessed from eight different roads.

Square Square

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• Name: Ellis Square, also known as the market square

• Name Origin: Henry Ellis, the second royal governor of Georgia

• Year establishes: 1733

• Location: intersection of Barnard Street and West St. Julian Street

• Monuments: Johnny Mercer

• Landmark: City Market

• History: Ellis Square was demolished to build the City Market parking garage in 1954. In 2006, the parking garage was rebuilt underneath of the square and the city restored Ellis Square opened in March 2010

SAVANNAH DOWNTOWN, ELLIS SQUARE, GEORGIA

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Conclusion

OBSERVATIONS

• Note-Takings in Field

• Visual-Map of Ellis Square

• The Zero

Note-Takings in Field (Huey’s)

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Note-Takings in Field (Tiffany’s)

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Visual-Map of Ellis Square

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1. Ellis Square w/visitor center and big fountain

2. Five Guys 3. Heiwa’s Japanese

Restaurant 4. AVIA Hotel 5. Under Construction 6. (LEASE) 7. Fifty-one51degree 8. Retro of the Congress 9. Velvet Elvis Lounge 10. The Corner Store 11. Accessorize IT 12. (Unknown) 13. Wild Wing Café 14. Café GelatOhhh! 15. Hunting 16. Inn At Ellis Square Parking

alot 17. Inn At Ellis Square 18. Tiny park w/small

fountain

W. Congress St.

W. Bryan St.

W. St. Julian St. City Market

Barn

ard St.

Barn

ard St.

Barn

ard St.

Bar

nar

d S

t.

N River Visual-Map of Ellis Square

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c

W. Congress St.

W. Bryan St.

W. Julian St. City Market

Barn

ard St.

Bar

nar

d S

t.

Visual-Map of Ellis Square

Barn

ard St.

Barn

ard St.

+10

+20

+10

x2

+5

+15 +3

+5

Ellis Square

Visual-Map of Ellis Square

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8:00 pm

8:00 am

9:00 am

9:20 am

8:00 am

8:00 am 8:00 pm

noon

Afternoon

Afternoon

Timeline in Ellis Square

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The Zero

Back streets are not organized as main street Scribbles on wall Trash container on street

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South East corner, there are two buildings, but both of them are not in use.

The Zero

Since city provides smoking pots, people still don’t throw their cigarettes away correctly.

Some women wear heels, but walking into holes area is a big problem. Even, dogs don’t like to walk on holes too.

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Trash replacer doesn’t like the way trash’s design: pick the lid up and almost lose it after put it on the top of trash can.

City cleaner doesn’t like seeing people left some dirties on the floor, which s/he has to clean.

The Zero

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- Two construction workings going on around Ellis Square.

- Georgia power, they are on construction to replace cables. MLK construction is the same reason.

(Both informations were answered through a

conversation.)

CONVERSATIONS

• The Lady and Sons Worker • City Cleaner (Big Fountain Charger) • 2 Cilantros Grill Workers • 2 Constructors • City Cleaner (Trash Replacer)

The Lady and Sons Worker

• She is a college student, and she came to savannah in 2009.

• She works in famous savannah restaurant, The Lady and Sons.

• She prefers typical squares than Ellis Square, because she likes place where has lots of trees and shadows.

• She wishes to experience playing a chess floor near constructions.

• She was very friendly, and she loves her life in savannah.

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City Cleaner (Big Fountain Charger)

• He has lived in savannah 38 years.

• He works for city cleaner, and he is in charge of cleaning water fountain.

• He came to Ellis Square before 9am for cleaning, because the water fountain starts at 9am.

• He likes Ellis Square more than any other squares, because he feels that Ellis Square provide more public spaces for family.

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CONTINUED… City Cleaner (Big Fountain Charger)

• In front of the visitor center and the public restroom, there used to be cover the ground with rocks just like the other square edges in Ellis Square. However, city took the rocks away few years later, because people (especially children) bring rock to the water fountain.

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2 Cilantros Grill Workers

• We also had a conversation with another restaurant workers who speaks Spanish as their first language and rarely speak English.

• They ride a bicycle for transportation, and they park their bike in Ellis Square before they go to work.

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2 Constructors

• They have been working on construction for 2 month in Ellis Square.

• They start to work at 8 am until 4 pm.

• They have a very short lunch time, so they usually make food to go and have lunch in Ellis square.

• Right now, there are three different projects are going on with different top managers.

• There will be retail stores such as restraints and bank on the first floor, and offices on upper floors.

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City Cleaner (Trash Replacer)

• He always has pain in his neck, because he lifts up trashes everyday.

• He came to Ellis Square everyday about 10:00 am to pick up trashes in trashcan on the street.

• There are more trashes during weekend, but he said he can handle it!

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