The City of Savannah will hold a series of community-wide engagement sessions regarding the future use of the Savannah Civic Center site.The meetings will be an opportunity for community feedback and questions focusing on the facility and the site's future, with consideration for the arts and land uses.These sessions will include a review of the project background and provide updates on technical analysis, cultural landscape analysis, survey, and archaeology assessment.In 1972, the city completed the construction of the Savannah Civic Center on the site of the former Municipal Auditorium. The seven-acre site includes the nearly 10,000-seat Martin Luther King Jr. Arena, the 2,500-seat Johnny Mercer Theatre, several community ballrooms and multi-purpose rooms.The civic center stands as the most oversized single parcel in the Savannah National Historic Landmark District (SNHLD). Its construction preceded the enactment of the Historic District Ordinance, and the development was classified as an urban renewal project. This designation led to the recombination of the Oglethorpe Plan, including the claiming portions of the Elbert and Jackson wards, the diminishment of Elbert Square's size and prominence, and the alteration of the street pattern. It decreased connectivity to neighborhoods to the west. The following public engagement sessions will take place over the next few weeks:•Stakeholder Meetings – Thursday, April 25: A series of 1-hour sessions will be held with representatives from the business community, Metropolitan Planning Commission, Neighborhood Associations, arts community, and other community stakeholders.•Community-wide Open House – Tuesday, May 7, from 6 to 8 p.m., Civic Center Ballroom: A community-wide open house will be held for anyone who would like to learn more about the project and offer input. A second open house will be announced shortly, and it will be held on the south side. •Virtual Community Meeting –Thursday, May 16 at 6 p.m. (Tentative): This meeting will follow the format of the in-person open house. Information on participating in the virtual session will be shared on May 4. "We are going to address the hard issues head-on," Savannah Mayor Van Johnson said. "It's time for us to make a decision." The Savannah City Council directed the city manager to undertake a comprehensive review of the options for the civic center site and bring back recommendations for the city council's consideration.