Arts district catches on in slow-paced US city

Savannah, US

THE idea of a vanguard arts district may seem counter-intuitive in this slow-paced city of courtly manners and stately architecture, but after almost two decades, an emerging area called the Starland District may finally be hitting its stride.

Originally envisioned in 1998 by two graduates of the Savannah College of Art and Design, the Starland District in Savannah, Georgia is a collection of art studios, small offices, galleries, cafes and retail shops loosely assembled around Bull Street south of city's historic downtown and Forsyth Park.

At its centre is the former Starland Dairy, two city blocks with crumbling historic buildings bought in 2000 by the district's founders, John Deaderick and Greg Jacobs. They created retail s…