Economic Development Attorney Savannah GA

Overview

HunterMaclean is the leading business law firm in Georgia outside of Atlanta. It is listed as one of the “Top 10 firms that understand economic development” by Southern Business and Development Magazine.

The Firm’s economic development team of Drew Ernst, Harold Yellin, Ben Hartman, Ron Talley, and Patrick Webb collectively has over 100 years of experience in all phases of economic development including site identification, land acquisition, environmental permitting, governmental relations, zoning, ad valorem taxation, industrial incentives, real estate financing, and leasing. Each of them has been directly involved for many years in developing public-private partnerships with state and local governments to produce growth for the region.

Experience

Representing BMC Consultancy, AG, a Swedish company, in locating and developing the world’s most advanced wood pellet mill in Waycross, Georgia, and in developing warehouse facilities for exporting 750,000 metric tons of wood pellets per year to Europe through the Port of Savannah. The plant consumes approximately 250 truckloads of timber per day and produces approximately twenty-two rail cars of wood pellets per day.
Representing the Jekyll Island-State Park Authority in redeveloping Jekyll Island, which is wholly owned by the State of Georgia. The project, which is ongoing, includes a new convention center, parks, relocated railways and island entrance, two new hotels, and a retail village.
Representing Batson-Cook Development Company and several other companies in the development of News Place on Ellis Square in the Savannah historic district. The project, which opened in the summer of 2008, includes a city-owned 1075-space subterranean parking garage constructed under a historic square, the restoration of Ellis Square, construction of a new hotel, restoration of the historic Savannah Morning News buildings for a Ruth’s Chris Steak House and other retail and restaurant uses, and development of forty luxury condominium units facing Savannah River.
Representing Grumman Corporation, and later its successor Gulfstream Aerospace Corporation, in locating its aerospace manufacturing facilities in Savannah in the 1950s. Gulfstream is now the leading employer in the Savannah area and remains a valued Firm client.
Representing Fort Howard Corporation (now Georgia Pacific Corporation) in locating and constructing the world’s most advanced recycled tissue mill, a $750 million investment in Effingham County, Georgia. Partner Brooks Stillwell represented the company over several years and handled land assembly of over thirty separate parcels, governmental relations, local property tax and land use issues, and negotiations with state agencies concerning road construction and environmental permitting.
Representing CSX Realty, the developer of the Westin Savannah Harbor Resort on Hutchinson Island, just across the Savannah River from historic downtown Savannah. Over a twelve year period, HunterMaclean partners Drew Ernst and Brooks Stillwell handled land acquisition, environmental permitting, zoning and land use issues, governmental relations including the annexation of the property into the City of Savannah, negotiation of a contract with the City that enabled irrigation of the golf course on the island with treated effluent, and formation of a public-private partnership that developed the infrastructure for the island and the Savannah International Trade and Convention Center, resulting in a combined investment of over $200 million.
Representing Great Dane Trailers in its growth and expansion projects for over fifty years.
Representing the owners of Oglethorpe Mall, the largest regional shopping center in South Georgia, in developing the mall in 1968 and in its expansions over a forty year period.
Representing the Savannah Economic Development Authority as its special environmental counsel in the development of Crossroads Business Center. Partner Drew Ernst was successful in obtaining a first-of-its-kind wetland permit pursuant to Section 404 of the Clean Water Act, which led to the pre-permitting of the wetland development within a 1,750 acre mixed-use industrial park.
Representing W.E.T., Inc., in developing the country’s first permitted commercial wetland mitigation bank in Screven County, Georgia, and another company in developing a second mitigation bank at the Monastery of the Holy Spirit near Conyers, Georgia, southeast of Atlanta.
Represented the developer of Trustees’ Garden on the site of the original gardens planted by the Trustees of the Colony of Georgia. The project is located on the site of a former manufactured gas plant. In cooperation with counsel for the seller-utility, obtained “prospective purchaser” limitation of liability certification for the buyer and developer from Georgia Environmental Protection Division.
Represented the owner of a 4,000 acre timber tract that was located on all four quadrants of the intersection of Interstate Highways 95 and 16 in selling the property in phases over several years. Negotiated a development agreement under which the seller obtained a percentage of the retail sales price as the property was developed.
Worked with developer on agreements bringing sewer and water service to a 1,100 acre mixed-use park for manufacturing, warehousing, distribution, and commercial development in Bryan County, Georgia.
Assisted a metal fabricating business, based in the northeastern United States, with due diligence and contracting matters related to a plant expansion in north Georgia. It was a development authority transaction being structured as a lease with payments in lieu of taxes.
Assisted an international manufacturer of building materials in locating a new plant in Georgia, including customary due diligence, documentation related to various incentives, and related real estate matters.
Assisted a national clothing retailer in acquiring a distribution facility in the western United States. The transaction involved customary legal services such as negotiation of acquisition contract, coordination of all due diligence (title, survey, physical condition assessment, and environmental reports), and closing the transaction.

Publications & Presentations

Publications

An Overview of the New Markets Tax Credit (NMTC)

The federal New Markets Tax Credit (NMTC) program was established in 2000 by Congress to spur new or increased investments into operating businesses and real estate projects located in low-income communities. The program attracts investment in low-income communities by allowing individual and corporate investors to receive a tax credit against their federal income tax liability.

Publications

Presentations

Videos