SCAD is a scam and shouldn’t be called a non-profit
I attended St Vincent’s Academy and Armstrong Junior College in the 1960s. Neither was located in a slum. Ten years later, I lived in a carriage house on West Gaston Street. My landlady lived in the house in front, and I knew the neighbors. I was a public school teacher and could afford a carriage house.
The development of a shopping mall drew shoppers away from the locally owned stores in the Historic District. Residents remained, however, because there is an elegance to the townhouses that has never diminished.
In the 1970s, downtown was quiet, but no one can say it was decaying, empty or apocalyptic. If so, I would not have lived there, nor would the families who have populated the Historic District since the 18th century.
SCAD is an investment for President Paula “Wallet” Wallace who pays herself $2 million a year. No student government, no faculty tenure, one-year contracts, affidavits of non-disclosure. What is there to disclose? SCAD is designed to make money.
A recent Savannah Morning News opinion column about art film houses in Savannah noted that when SCAD took over the Lucas Theater, a film series promoter was priced out. The idea that this school is a non-profit is a joke. Its sole purpose is to make a profit.
The unfortunate evolution of the Historic District into short-term rentals, hotels and SCAD buildings has made a residential area into a playground for raucous bridesmaids’ parties, carriages drawn by sad, sweating horses and streets clogged with tourists listening to tour guides who, without regulation, are allowed to spout lies instead of the truth. Let’s tell the truth about SCAD.
Nancy S. Cunningham, Savannah
Previous letters:Readers share their views on recent SCAD coverage
Previously:As SCAD, tourism and other local economic drivers moved in, long-time residents were forced out
SCAD investigative series full of ‘cheap shots’
About half of reporter Zoe Nicholson’s story headlined “Community considers SCAD’s impact on housing” and most of the related piece headlined “Documents reveal how SCAD amassed a billion-dollar fortune” are based on little more than greedy, jealous cheap shots.
SCAD has made far greater contributions to Savannah’s community, economy, tax base, prosperity and social fabric than Savannah’s municipal government (the takers) or the Savannah Morning News. How dare they acquire ramshackle, crumbling properties, invest heavily to restore them, then grow the assets to a value of $900 million?
The only way, from the perspective of media liberals and government takers like Mayor Van Johnson to acknowledge SCAD as the true hero they are would be if they had done all the fabulous things they have done for Savannah, and gone broke in the process.
How dare their good work recreate a wonderful, healthy, prosperous city and build SCAD’s assets.
SCAD deserves better.
Don R. Sherwood, Savannah
From the desk of Adam Van Brimmer:SCAD helped spark Savannah’s renaissance; the school has stoked plenty of resentment since
A simple SCAD solution
Thank you for the series of articles on SCAD and its impacts on the city. It seems to me that all the issues could easily be mitigated if SCAD would just do one simple thing: offer payments to the city in lieu of taxes.
That is what the really fine major universities do and that is what would put SCAD in their league. In addition, it’s simply the right thing to do. And it would go a long way to create good PR for SCAD.
Erika Archibald, Savannah
SCAD brought life and art to Savannah
SCAD brought both life and art into Savannah when it was at the point of decay.
How do I know this? Because I was in the real estate business when they came and the Guards Armory as we called it was in decay. My good client, Jim Williams, called me and said to put a contract on it. When I told him it had been sold to an art school he said “What is that?”
However, we watched as this young woman running across the park with a baby in her arms began to start an art school. Soon we saw students who didn’t look like us in the squares, riding their bikes to attend school there. It grew organically and I witnessed the amazing success that SCAD has become.
People began to discover Savannah, those from New York and as far away as California. They began to buy property downtown that was more affordable than they could imagine. And now, some who have made investments scream and holler and forget that they have increased their net worth with the land they now own and can gain a huge profit.
So I say to them: Be happy for what SCAD has brought to Savannah and to you.
As a native Savannahian of 95 years, I am in awe of President Paula Wallace and her amazing contribution to all of our lives with her great dedication to the artists of the world.
Miriam Center, Savannah
More on SCAD’s community impact:As SCAD grows outward, community questions whether it is revitalizer, gentrifier or both
Another SCAD tax solution
On the matter of SCAD and property taxes, no one is at fault for legally minimizing taxes.
SCAD is not at fault, the laws on property taxes are.
While non-profits, including religious institutions, may be exempt from income taxes, they should not be exempt from property taxes, which fund local government services.
Non-profits have to pay for water, for electricity, for telephone, for internet and for employees, so why not for government services? Why are police and fire expenses free?
I suggest we enact an ordinance that gives one water rate, one police rate and one fire services rate for those subject to property taxes and another, much higher water, police and fire rate for those who are not subject to property taxes.
Tony Center, Savannah
Expressing gratitude to those who deal with our ‘shoulds’
Beautiful Savannah has plenty of opinionated people – including me – about what “should be done.”
We read loads of comments and judgments about SCAD and what they “should” do. The Canal District, the STVRS, now the Civic Center, crime and that somebody “should” fix all of these issues.
Let’s drop the “should” unless we personally have solutions worth their weight and we are willing to step up.
Hopefully, with this Easter season, we’ll recognize the beauty of our city and all it has to offer and we’ll learn to be patient, to show understanding as well as gratitude to those who actually serve us every day within the City Council.
Andrée Patterson, Savannah
More on SCAD developments:NewZo districts pave way for 17-story SCAD dorm, Yamacraw redevelopment