The West Broad Street (MLK Jr. Boulevard) and River Street intersection became a hub of commercial activity due to its direct access to the city’s canals and rail yards.

West River Street at the turn of the century was home to intense shipping infrastructure that would be replaced by the Power Plant only a decade later.

Established in 1912, the Power Plant quickly grew, expanding the original classical brick structure several times, and was considered a model of the modern electrical city. 

The power plant underwent successive periods of growth to add capacity, constructing several generations of structures on the site.

The plant reached its full buildout with the completion of the last addition in 1956. The view from Hutchinson Island illustrates many of the structures that historically stood on the site until its decommissioning in 2005.

The Riverside Power Plant ceased operations in 2005, and many of the structures historically on the site were subsequently removed during the remediation of the site.

The Kessler Collection acquires the historic Riverside Power Plant site and begins redevelopment plans for a vibrant mixed-use West River Street with the historic Power Plant as the centerpiece.

On Wednesday, Dec. 7, 2016, The Kessler Collection officially broke ground on Plant Riverside District -kicking off the $270 million project and awakening an area of River Street that has been closed off to the public for more than 100 years. State and local dignitaries, Marriott International’s CEO, Kessler Collection executives and key development partners celebrated the moment. 

The Plant Riverside District project reached a new phase in redevelopment as all of the deep foundation work was completed for the Three Muses building and construction began straight up into the sky. For three months, a lot of time was dedicated to reinforcing the old steel of the Power Plant in order to create a more permanent base foundation, without compromising the structure of the building. Expect to see the entertainment district appear on Savannah’s horizon soon. 

Savannah began a new story in Summer 2020, across 4.5 acres of fun and entertainment-all part of Plant Riverside District. Guests will find luxury hotel rooms, three rooftop bars, more than a dozen dining options, wine tasting, specialty retail shops, kids slash pads, science exhibits, and more, across a quarter mile of new river walk. 

In September 2022, JW Marriott Savannah Plant Riverside District was inducted into Historic Hotels of America, the official program of the National Trust for Historic Preservation. As a proud member, it is one of more than 300 hotels and resorts throughout the country that is recognized by Historic Hotels of America for Preserving and maintaining its historic integrity, architecture, and ambiance.