Savannah Chamber

27 armored brigade are expected to begin in early 2018. The second brigade also trained with the Georgia Army National Guard's 48 th Brigade Combat Team as part of the Army's associated-unit pilot program. Elements of the Third Infantry Division continue to serve throughout the world. About 250 soldiers attached to the divisional headquarters battalion were deployed to Afghanistan during the summer of 2017 and are expected to return in the spring of 2018. About half of the 3 rd Combat Aviation Brigade will deploy to Afghanistan along with approximately 300 soldiers of the Division Sustainment Brigade (logistical support) for a nine-month deployment. Return is expected during the summer of 2018. Lastly, after having completed a readiness training cycle in late 2017, the First Brigade's 4,000 soldiers will be deployed for nine months to South Korea in the spring of 2018. Other deployments in 2017 placed units of the Third Infantry Division in four combatant commands across twenty countries. Military units in the region provided important relief work in Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands after Hurricane Maria struck in September. Members of the Fort Stewart-based 63 rd Signal Battalion of the 35thTheater Tactical Signal Brigade were joined by members of the 1 st Battalion 169 th Aviation Regiment of the Georgia Army National Guard. Further, the Savannah Air National Guard Base was the hub of operations for relief flights to the island performed by the 165 th Airlift Wing of the Georgia Air National Guard. The units performed heavy lift operations, supported the re-establishment of communications, and provided food and water provisions along with other humanitarian relief. The Airlift Wing also flew support missions in Texas and Florida after Hurricanes Harvey and Irma, respectively, damaged those areas. The 63rd Signal battalion also supported in Texas in the aftermath of Harvey. The Savannah/Hilton Head International Airport hosts the Savannah Air National Guard Base. The 165 th Airlift Wing and the 117 th Air Control Squadron operate from the airbase. The Air Dominance Center (ADC) at the base is one of only four Air National Guard Combat Readiness Training Centers in the country. The ADC hosts Sentry Savannah, which is a quarterly large-scale "fight club" for combat air forces. The ADC expects to conduct its largest training exercise in 2018, attracting about 50 fighter aircraft and support units from across the country. The Air National Guard has committed to support the ADC by funding construction of a new hangar, $1.8 million of which was obligated in 2017 for engineering and design. Real Estate The real estate market for residential property remained healthy in 2017. A total of 7,284 homes sold in the three- county region, a gain of 11% over 2016. In Chatham County, the average home price in qualified sales was approximately $245,0000, a gain of 2.2% from 2017. In the three-county region, sale prices were up 4% to 5%. In terms of housing costs, Savannah consistently lands in the lower half on the Caldwell Banker home-cost list (#1,515 of 2,722 total markets covered). West Chatham County continues to hold the greatest promise for single family housing construction in 2018 in Chatham County. Vacancy rates in metro Savannah's office market decreased to 15.8% at the end of 2017 from 17% at the end of 2016. In the region, office rental rates increased by 2.6% from 2016, with all submarkets reporting gains. Rental rates increased faster in Bryan County, on the Westside, and Southside. Office space rental rates were $22.01 per square foot in the downtown central business district at year-end, up from $21.60 in 2016. Similar gains are anticipated for 2018. Commercial construction has boomed in the metro Savannah region in recent years and does not appear to be easing in 2018. Broughton Street retail development activity appears to be maturing as occupancy rates are reported to be above 95%. The Ben Carter project, launched in 2014, yielded about $90 million in investment and includes about 100,000 square feet. The Starland District continues to attract new investment and a major addition is expected to add a 600 to 800 seat music venue and more retail, office and residential space. Pooler continues to see strong commercial development. New restaurant and retail establishments are expected, along with a micro hospital, hotels, entertainment venues, and other commercial activity. In Liberty County, commercial retail trade development was substantially boosted with the opening of the new 171,000 SF Oglethorpe Square shopping center on U.S. 84.

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