G. Holmes Bell IV
President & CEO
Hussey Gay Bell
For the past 20 years, Atlanta has been the prime location for growth in the region, Bell says, but there has been a noticeable shift toward Savannah as a core market that has gained traction in recent years thanks to the Port Authority of Georgia and significant investments in economic development. .
“Residents and businesses are expanding into bedroom communities and moving into the metro area, which is driving AEC activity in regions that haven’t seen significant economic development in decades, already whether it’s on the residential or industrial side,” says Bell. “As a result, we’re now playing catch-up, especially in terms of infrastructure.”
Infrastructure is now the growing region’s top priority, he says, whether it’s water, housing or roads, and all of these areas were concerns before Hyundai announced its monumental building plans nearby.
In Ellabell, Ga., Hyundai is working on its Metaplant, which was listed as ENR Southeast’s first start in 2022, the largest project to begin that year with a construction value of $5.5 billion. A subsequent expansion of the project tied for first place on ENR Southeast’s Top 2023 starts at $2.5 billion.
Hyundai’s plans to build its first fully dedicated electric vehicle manufacturing facility and joint venture battery manufacturing facility will bring 8,100 jobs to the region, Bell notes.
Hussey Gay Bell is involved in eight related projects, including the $926 million Hyundai MOBIS and the $4 billion Hyundai Motor Group-LG EV battery cell manufacturing plant.
“We were seeing a huge influx of residents from other parts of the state and the country, attracted by the quality of life we enjoy here on the coast,” he says, adding that with that growth comes the responsibility to manage- in a sustainable manner while balancing the interests of existing businesses and residents.
As a native Savannahian, Bell says striking that balance is no small feat.
On the residential front, Hussey Gay Bell is experiencing significant growth from an increase in planned unit developments seeking approval for expansion into single-family communities from 100 to 120 lots and multi-family housing, he says, already that there is not enough local inventory. to meet the demand of people moving to the coast.
That has left companies playing catch-up, he adds, with national road builders moving quickly into the market and putting affordable housing at the forefront.
“Like many communities in the Southeast, we are seeing explosive growth at an unprecedented rate, which presents challenges, particularly in terms of infrastructure and housing capacity,” says Bell.
Water, in particular, is a sensitive issue on the coast, with groundwater withdrawal restrictions leaving the community in a somewhat reactive phase, he says.
“Like many communities in the Southeast, we are seeing explosive growth at an unprecedented rate.”
—G. Holmes Bell, President and CEO of Hussey Gay Bell
The city is working on, and Hussey Gay Bell is designing, an upgrade of its industrial and domestic surface water treatment plant to increase its capacity to 75 million gallons per day from 50 MGD to improve reliability and protection against fires
“I have no doubt that those of us who live and work in and around Savannah are approaching these challenges with Southern grace and optimism,” says Bell. “We recognize that this is a crucial moment, with all eyes on the coast, [including] the attention of those who influence regulations, funding and outcomes. After all, we are the host city.”
All of this is adding up to create an exciting time for the Savannah headquarters of Hussey Gay Bell, established in 1958. The company is involved in major developments for the Georgia Port Authority, the Huyndai plant, as well as the infrastructure, housing, education and health facilities that support it. that growth
“The last five or six years have been incredibly busy for our company, particularly in the industrial sector, with a strong focus on warehouse, distribution and logistics facilities,” says Bell.
During that time, Hussey Gay Bell has consistently designed 5 to 6 million square feet of warehouse facilities annually, he adds, and while that activity is winding down, interest is shifting to facilities smaller than 300,000 square feet or less.
“While we are seeing a slight slowdown in this space, the industrial increase on the manufacturing side has increased strongly with many of the Tier 1 supplier manufacturing facility locations tied to Hyundai Motor Group Metaplant America” , says Bell.
