Hunter Maclean

Westin Savannah Harbor Resort

The Westin Savannah Harbor Golf Resort & Spa is well-known as one of the most popular and most successful hotels in Savannah, but the hotel, which is located on Hutchinson Island just across the river from Savannah's National Landmark Historic District, had several major legal hurdles to overcome when it was first conceived in the 1980's.

When the developer sought necessary environmental permits, the project was approved by Georgia agencies. However, the State of South Carolina objected, and took the position that it had jurisdiction to veto the project under the Coastal Zone Management Act. HunterMaclean attorneys argued that South Carolina could not veto a project within Georgia, since Georgia had not subjected itself to jurisdiction. Ultimately, the U.S. Justice Department agreed with Georgia's position, and the Corps of Engineers issued a permit which allowed the development. The firm's client, CSX Realty, then reached an agreement to build the Westin, with its Greenbriar Spa.

Over a twelve year period, the firm's lawyers, lead by partners Drew Ernst and Brooks Stillwell, were called upon to resolve many other legal problems. The title to some of the filled land was in question, but because of intensive research into legislative acts and documents from the Nineteenth Century, the firm was able to obtain title insurance.

In addition to resolving permitting and title problems, the attorneys negotiated a public-private partnership under which Chatham County built roads on the island, constructed the Savannah International Trade and Convention Center, and constructed a riverwalk surrounding the trade center and resort and an interchange off of the Talmadge Bridge. The City of Savannah built multiple water and sewer lines under the shipping channel of the Savannah River to provide drinking water, reuse water for the golf course, and sewage treatment for the island. The developers agreed to donate the land for the trade center to the County, to build the resort, and to annex the land into the City.

In 1988, the Fulton County Daily Report, Atlanta's legal newspaper, wrote a front page story about Hutchinson Island, and Ernst and Stillwell's efforts to assist its development, under the headline "Fantasy Island," which questioned whether such an ambitious project could make it in Savannah. By sticking with the project for many years, the firm succeeded in helping its client build one of Savannah's most important developments.

Client Status:

Westin Savannah Harbor Resort has been a proud Hunter Maclean client for over 10 years.

Practice Areas:

Real Estate

About the Westin Savannah Harbor Golf Resort & Spa:

The Westin Savannah Harbor Golf Resort & Spa, part of Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc., is a AAA Four Diamond-rated, 403-room, 16-story resort hotel on Hutchison Island, located just a water taxi ride away from the southern charm of Savannah's Historic District. The Travel Channel recently featured the Westin Savannah Harbor one of the country's "Great Hotels."

For further information see publication and powerpoint presentation below. Further information is also available on the public-private partnership, see Hutchinson Island: Chatham Savannah's Public Private Partnership.