Initial Findings from Field Research

1. Ellis Square in Savannah
IDUS 215
Contextual Research Methods
Huey Park & Tiffany Slieff

2. Gathering General Information
Before
Going to Field
2

3. Georgia>Savannah>Downtown>Squar
e
Square
Downtown
Savannah
Georgia
3

4. 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
4

5. 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.
5

6. SAVANNAH DOWNTOWN, GEORGIA
• 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.
6

7. 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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8. SAVANNAH DOWNTOWN, ELLIS SQUARE, GEORGIA
• 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
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9. Conclusion
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10. OBSERVATIONS
• Note-Takings in Field
• Visual-Map of Ellis
Square
• The Zero

11. Note-Takings in Field (Huey’s)
11

12. Note-Takings in Field (Tiffany’s)
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13. Visual-Map of Ellis Square
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14. N
Visual-Map of Ellis Square River
2
Barnard St.
1. Ellis Square w/visitor 17
3
center and big fountain
2. Five Guys 16 18 4
3. Heiwa’s Japanese
W. Bryan St.
Restaurant
4. AVIA Hotel
Barnard St.
Barnard St.
5. Under Construction 15
6. (LEASE) 5
7. Fifty-one51degree
14
8. Retro of the Congress
9. Velvet Elvis Lounge
10. The Corner Store City Market 1 W. St. Julian St.
11. Accessorize IT
12. (Unknown)
13. Wild Wing Café 13 6
14. Café GelatOhhh!
15. Hunting
16. Inn At Ellis Square Parking
alot W. Congress St.
Barnard St.
17. Inn At Ellis Square
18. Tiny park w/small 12 11 10 9 c8 7
fountain
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15. Visual-Map of Ellis Square
+10
Barnard St.
W. Bryan St.
Barnard St.
Barnard St.
City Market W. Julian St. x2
+10
+5 W. Congress St.
Barnard St.
c
+5 +20
+3 15
+15

16. Visual-Map of Ellis Square
Ellis Square
16

17. Timeline in Ellis Square
Afternoon
Afternoon
8:00 am
noon
8:00 am
8:00 pm
9:20 am
8:00 am 9:00 am
8:00 pm17

18. The Zero
Back streets are not organized as main street Scribbles on wall Trash container on street
South East corner, there are two buildings, but both of them are not in use.
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19. The Zero
Since city provides smoking Some women wear heels, but walking
pots, people still don’t throw into holes area is a big problem. Even,
their cigarettes away correctly. dogs don’t like to walk on holes too.
Trash replacer doesn’t like the City cleaner doesn’t like seeing
way trash’s design: pick the lid people left some dirties on the
up and almost lose it after put it floor, which s/he has to clean. 19
on the top of trash can.

20. The Zero
- 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.)
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21. CONVERSATIONS
• The Lady and Sons Worker
• City Cleaner (Big Fountain Charger)
• 2 Cilantros Grill Workers
• 2 Constructors
• City Cleaner (Trash Replacer)

22. 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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23. 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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24. 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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25. 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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26. 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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27. 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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