"A Wonderful World?": C&S's Georgia Plan, Urban Renewal, and Historic Preservation in Savannah, Augusta, and Macon.

The article focuses on the Georgia Plan initiated by Citizens and Southern National Bank (C&S) under president Mills B. Lane Jr., which aimed to address urban blight and poverty through a series of community revitalization efforts in cities like Savannah, Augusta, and Macon during the late 1960s. Th...

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Published in:Georgia Historical Quarterly Vol. 109; no. 1; pp. 38 - 73
Main Author: SOUTHER, J. MARK
Format: Article
Published: Georgia Historical Society 2025
Subjects:
Online Access:View this record in EBSCOhost
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        atl: "A Wonderful World?": C&S's Georgia Plan, Urban Renewal, and Historic Preservation in Savannah, Augusta, and Macon.
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        au: SOUTHER, J. MARK
        affil: Professor of history, Cleveland State University
      su:
        Housing
        Real estate business
        History associations
        Public spaces
        Historic preservation
        Urban renewal
      sug:
        subj:
          Housing
          Real estate business
          History associations
          Public spaces
          Historic preservation
          Urban renewal
      ab: The article focuses on the Georgia Plan initiated by Citizens and Southern National Bank (C&S) under president Mills B. Lane Jr., which aimed to address urban blight and poverty through a series of community revitalization efforts in cities like Savannah, Augusta, and Macon during the late 1960s. The plan included initiatives such as the "Spring Cleaning '68" campaign, which involved extensive cleanup efforts and the provision of loans for housing rehabilitation and business development, particularly targeting African American communities. While the program garnered initial support and aimed to foster community engagement and historic preservation, it ultimately faced criticism for its limited impact on systemic issues of poverty and gentrification, leading to mixed outcomes in the targeted neighborhoods. The Georgia Plan serves as a case study of the complexities surrounding urban renewal and the challenges of achieving meaningful change through private sector initiatives.
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    language: English
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