Term of Award

Winter 2025

Degree Name

Master of Science, Applied Geography

Document Type and Release Option

Thesis (open access)

Copyright Statement / License for Reuse

Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.

Department

Department of Geology and Geography

Committee Chair

Amy Potter

Committee Member 1

Meimei Lin

Committee Member 2

Wei Tu

Committee Member 3

Marieke Van Willigen

Abstract

This mixed-methods study examines the relationship between the Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD) and neighborhood change in Savannah’s historic districts. It combines GIS analysis of census data from 2000, 2010, and 2020, regression models, and a community survey (n = 60). The qualitative analysis findings suggest that areas near SCAD properties saw disproportionate increases in college-aged residents, White and Asian populations, higher educational attainment, income levels, and housing costs. Survey responses revealed concerns among long-term residents about rising affordability pressures, cultural displacement, and whether revitalization efforts benefit the broader community. Many respondents questioned the balance between the city and SCAD and expressed that institutional expansion did not always reflect their needs or priorities. This study builds on earlier work by extending the temporal scope, including a larger number of SCAD properties, and incorporating direct community perspectives. By focusing on a private art institution with a dispersed urban footprint, it contributes a unique case to anchor institution literature, where most research centers on large public universities. The findings suggest that arts-focused institutions can be linked to patterns of urban change similar to those observed around traditional higher education anchors. While the analysis does not establish causation, it underscores the need for further research and policy attention to housing equity and cultural preservation in SCAD-adjacent neighborhoods.

OCLC Number

1550707905

Research Data and Supplementary Material

No

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Available for download on Saturday, October 10, 2026

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