Kensington Park & Groveland are now Registered Historic Districts as awarded by the National Park Service and are listed in the National Register of Historic Places.
The nearly 160 acres that are Kensington Park-Groveland Historic District is a post-World-War II residential neighborhood. Kensington Park was laid out in 1950 and the smaller Groveland area was planned later that year. Built as one of the first residential sub developments for the middle and upper class after WW-II in Savannah, a look at the list of original occupants quickly points out the many mid-century contributors to Savannah’s growing industrial and medical history. Built by several well-known architects including Richard S. Thomas, who also built Bull Street Baptist Church, and Vernon N. Nowell, who designed and built his home in Groveland. Nowell is known for building WSAV Radio Station, Memorial Baptist Church and later the Savannah Civic Center. Considered “Country” living, Kensington Park and Groveland were Savannah’s earliest efforts to adhere to new FHA community planning guidelines. One of our distinguishing features are our curvilinear streets and cul-de-sacs, which broke a 200 year old pattern that used the gridiron lay-out as seen north of DeRenne Avenue. Most are wood framed homes with many having a veneer of Savannah Grey Brick that had been salvaged from the Hermitage Plantation and other deconstructed old Savannah homes
Constructed between 1950 and 1960, Kensington Park and Groveland feature one the earliest and best collections of mid-20th century domestic architecture to include Ranch, American Small House, Split –Level, Colonial Revival and Contemporary. We have been very fortunate to have maintained our integrity through both our landscape and our homes. Of the 401 houses in the district, only 16 are non-contributing. The majority of those lost were due to major alterations.
Our historic district is also significant for its early homeowners associations. While no comprehensive history of homeowners associations in Georgia is known to exist, a sampling suggests that there were very few in existence prior to WW-II and that the Kensington Park and Groveland clubs were among the earliest formally chartered in Georgia. The publication Privatopia points out that as late as 1962 there were fewer than 500 Neighborhood Association’s nationwide. The Kensington Park Association has been operating continuously since 1953 starting as the Kensington Park Garden Club. And the Groveland Community’s Men’s Club and Garden Club have existed since 1954. The Kensington Park Community Association which now includes Groveland has the distinction of being one of the oldest neighborhood associations to still be operational in the nation.
We take great pride in our neighborhood.
Constructed between 1950 and 1960, Kensington Park and Groveland feature one the earliest and best collections of mid-20th century domestic architecture to include Ranch, American Small House, Split –Level, Colonial Revival and Contemporary. We have been very fortunate to have maintained our integrity through both our landscape and our homes. Of the 401 houses in the district, only 16 are non-contributing. The majority of those lost were due to major alterations.
Our historic district is also significant for its early homeowners associations. While no comprehensive history of homeowners associations in Georgia is known to exist, a sampling suggests that there were very few in existence prior to WW-II and that the Kensington Park and Groveland clubs were among the earliest formally chartered in Georgia. The publication Privatopia points out that as late as 1962 there were fewer than 500 Neighborhood Association’s nationwide. The Kensington Park Association has been operating continuously since 1953 starting as the Kensington Park Garden Club. And the Groveland Community’s Men’s Club and Garden Club have existed since 1954. The Kensington Park Community Association which now includes Groveland has the distinction of being one of the oldest neighborhood associations to still be operational in the nation.
We take great pride in our neighborhood.
Kensington Park and Groveland hosted a grand celebration on April 19th, 2015 to recognize our historic status. It was estimated that almost 100 plus neighbors and friends attended the event.
We Are Now Nationally Known as Historic Kensington Park/Groveland!
Kensington Park/ Groveland has been notified by the National Park Services and the Georgia Register of Historic Places, that our community has met the criteria to be listed in the National Register of Historic Districts. This recognition could not have been possible without the work of Bob Ciucevich of Quatrefoil Consulting and the financial support of the members of the Kensignton Park Community Association. Please note: This designation is not the same as historic buildings that must apply for and receive approval for any alterations to the property, instead this recognizes our community as unique as one of the first mini-ranch subdivisions in Georgia, with lots larger than typical city lots, and may offer some protection from things like commercial intrusion.
SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT: Due to our historic status, home remodeling may be eligible for historic home tax incentives. To learn more please contact President Pam Miller by using the contact form found on this site under contact us!
SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT: Due to our historic status, home remodeling may be eligible for historic home tax incentives. To learn more please contact President Pam Miller by using the contact form found on this site under contact us!
Our History
Kensington Park and Groveland were both developed from land originally belonging to antebellum plantations: Kensington Park from the former Kensington Plantation and Groveland from a portion of Poplar Grove Plantation.
KENSINGTON PARK: Part of the acreage associated with Kensington Park Plantation later became known as Kensington Farm, a late 19th/early 20th century farm operation . In 1888, 1/3 of the plantation was sold and developed into Kensington, a new subdivision which included property north of DeRenne avenue. This was later subdivided into Medical Arts and the remaining 122 acres south of DeRenne was known as Kensington Farms. In 1950 the tracts were purchased by developers John C. Wylly and Emanuel Javetz who immediately made plans to develop a residential subdivision called Kensington Park. The engineering firm of Thomas & Hutton were commissioned to design the plan which carved five curvilinear streets out of the wooded tract yielding 299 building sites.
GROVELAND: About that same time, in the early 1950's, portions of the former Poplar Grove Plantation were being made into a residential subdivision. Poplar Grove belonged to the DeRenne family which was one of the wealthiest in Georgia and included what is now Groveland, Ardsley Park, Chatham Cresent, Ardmore, Lee-Olin Heights, and Lamara Heights. In 1950 the Groveland tract was sold to developer Lily V. Tarantino.
Most of the homes were built by an assortment of construction companies and independent contractors who purchased lots from the original developers. Many Groveland Homes were completed by the Chatham Construction Company and the Kensington homes by McIntosh and Company, Inc.
In 1951 nearby Hunter Air Force Base was built which led to a dramatic increase in housing starts in both neighborhoods.
KENSINGTON PARK: Part of the acreage associated with Kensington Park Plantation later became known as Kensington Farm, a late 19th/early 20th century farm operation . In 1888, 1/3 of the plantation was sold and developed into Kensington, a new subdivision which included property north of DeRenne avenue. This was later subdivided into Medical Arts and the remaining 122 acres south of DeRenne was known as Kensington Farms. In 1950 the tracts were purchased by developers John C. Wylly and Emanuel Javetz who immediately made plans to develop a residential subdivision called Kensington Park. The engineering firm of Thomas & Hutton were commissioned to design the plan which carved five curvilinear streets out of the wooded tract yielding 299 building sites.
GROVELAND: About that same time, in the early 1950's, portions of the former Poplar Grove Plantation were being made into a residential subdivision. Poplar Grove belonged to the DeRenne family which was one of the wealthiest in Georgia and included what is now Groveland, Ardsley Park, Chatham Cresent, Ardmore, Lee-Olin Heights, and Lamara Heights. In 1950 the Groveland tract was sold to developer Lily V. Tarantino.
Most of the homes were built by an assortment of construction companies and independent contractors who purchased lots from the original developers. Many Groveland Homes were completed by the Chatham Construction Company and the Kensington homes by McIntosh and Company, Inc.
In 1951 nearby Hunter Air Force Base was built which led to a dramatic increase in housing starts in both neighborhoods.
