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Vision:
To improve the quality of life for those that live, work and visit Tybee Island through a healthy business corridor and enhance the cultural experience while preserving the community's barrier island heritage.
Mission Statement:
The Mission of the Tybee Island Better Hometown Program is to:
- facilitate efforts to revitalize, redevelop and enhance the business corridor;
- create a sense of place and improve the quality of life for residents, business owners and visitors using the Main Street Four Point Approach;
- encourage quality economic growth and development while preserving Tybee Island's unique architectural heritage;
- support and encourage the arts as a cultural endeavor and economic engine on the Island.
This effort takes support and assistance from all. Therefore, Committees are forming to help with the foundation of the proven "Main Street four-point approach" tailored to meet local needs and opportunities. The four points are Organization, Promotion, Design and Economic Restructuring. The four points are combined to address all of the commercial district's needs.
Check out current information about the Program & the Main Corridor on Facebook by clicking here. For more information regarding the Board of Directors click here.
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The shuttle leaves from the Savannah Visitors Center Sundays through Thursdays at 10:00am, 12:00pm, 2:00pm, and 5:00pm* and Fridays through Saturdays 10:00am, 12:00pm, 2:00pm, 5:00pm, and 7:00pm*. The first stop on Tybee is at the Tybrisa / Strand Roundabout (approx. 30 - 40 minutes from Savannah departure) and then it stops at North Beach near the Tybee Island Lighthouse (approx. 15 minutes after the Roundabout stop).
Cost is $3 / way / person. Credit card payments are accepted for an additional $0.50 per one-way trip. *The Sunday - Thursday 5:00pm and Friday - Saturday 7:00pm are return trips from Tybee only.
Click here for more information. A map of the Island can be found here. |
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The Tybee Island Better Hometown Program is pleased to extend the opportunity for individuals to purchase a Memorial Plaque for City benches located within the downtown area of the Main Corridor.
Each bench will be memorialized with a permanent memorial plaque, becoming an enduring show of appreciation to Tybee’s heritage. For more information, please click here.
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This northernmost barrier island offers a variety of natural and cultural experiences while providing goods and services to Residents and Visitors.
That's right; it's all here on Tybee! For a list of shops, services, restaurants, and recreational activities welcoming you to walk through the door click here. The Locals Appreciation Card is available to those with a valid 31328 address on their driver's license. For the most current list (updated 4-24-13) of businesses honoring the card, click here. Cards can be obtained from the Better Hometown (BHT) Program Coordinator in the BHT Office at City Hall.
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Welcome to Tybee Island! We are happy that you have chosen Tybee as your new hometown – your piece of paradise where you can enjoy a fabulous quality of life.
Tybee Island is located within Chatham County and was incorporated in 1887 ... click here for all the information you need to settle in.
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For information about design guidelines for commercial buildings and curb appeal please click here. The Better Hometown Design Committee works with our partners with the Department of Community Affairs and the National Trust Main Street Center™ for design assistance. If you are located within the designated Main Corridor and would like assistance with signage, facade improvements, or the like, please feel free to inquire here.
HISTORIC PRESERVATION INFORMATION FOR PROPERTY OWNERS
Tybee's nostalgic feel is due in part to the architectural character, history and uniqueness throughout the island. Experts in the field of historic preservation and architecture have long worked with property owners on the Island to preserve buildings that represent the history and spirit of Tybee. Do you own a home and / or building that is over 50 years old? You may be eligible to protect and preserve your investment by being listed on the National Register! Want to know more about the National Register of Historic Places? Click here. Do you know the benefits of Historic Preservation? Following is beneficial information about the advantages of HP provided during various presentations: HP Federal Tax Incentive information
State Tax Assessment for Rehabilitated Historic Property
State Tax Credit for Rehabilitated Historic Property NATIONAL PRESERVATION MONTH
Every year, during the month of May, National Preservation Month is celebrated. The National Trust for Historic Preservation has a unique annual theme to celebrate. Following are past themes:
2010 - "This Place Matters",
2011 - "Celebrating America's Treasures”,
2012 - "Discover America's Hidden Gems”.
Together we are protecting America's heritage for future generations. Tybee is rich in history and the gems you see are critical to preserving Tybee's heritage and culture. There are four National Historic Register Districts and multiple individual properties on Tybee that are listed. Click here for details.
In 2010, Mayor Buelterman read a Proclamation in honor of National Preservation. Following are a few photos taken in celebration of the 2010 "This Place Matters" theme:
More photos are available for viewing here.
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Tybee is proud to be a Georgia Better Hometown Community.
The Program is based on historic preservation and uses the foundation of the proven Main Street four-point approach to address revitalization and enhancements for long term economic vitality within downtowns. The Better Hometown Program was developed by GA Department of Community Affairs as a self-help program designed to improve the community's quality of life through sound planning and implementation with private and public partnerships.
Tybee's designated main business corridor for revitalization encompasses the South End historic business area through the North End developing business area. By capitalizing on the corridor's unique assets and qualities, the sense of place and quality of life improves which benefits the businesses, the residents and all that experience the Island.
Assistance to Better Hometown communities is provided through a public-private partnership between many state and national agencies to assist communities with technical assistance and advice designed, in particular, to stimulate downtown revitalization.
The success of the program runs by a comprehensive four-point approach driven by volunteers:
 Committees work with the BHT Board of Directors to make projects happen. This structure minimizes confusion, avoids duplication and maintains good communication. Work plans set direction for committees and Board liaisons provide updates at the Board of Directors monthly meetings for review and approval as necessary. Committees typically meet once a month. To review Committee descriptions, meeting information, and the 2012-2013 Work Plan click here. Thank you to those that provided feedback, from which the work plans were developed, during the 2012 Community Visioning Workshop!
 Design Committee volunteers follow: Jim Glass, Board liaison; Bob Ciucevich - Quatrefoil Consulting; Sue Bentley - Solomon Properties; Bill Garbett - Tybee Beautification Association; Diane Schleicher- City Manager; Mark Boswell - Boswell Design; Jane Coslick - Resident
Economic Restructuring Committee volunteers follow: Ted Lynch, Board liaison; Sue Bentley - Solomon Properties; Sandy Major - Windfall Resources Inc.
Organization / Outreach Committee volunteers follow: John Yarbrough, Board liaison; BHT Board Members
Promotions Committee volunteers follow: Amy Kagan, Board liaison; Lindsay Fruchtl - Tybee Island Tourism Council; Chris Garbett - Tybee Beautification Association; Karen Kelly - Resident; Dicky Trotter - Resident
If you would like to be involved with a committee, please contact the Better Hometown Coordinator @ 472-5071 or cmorton@cityoftybee.org.
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In partnership with the Georgia Department of Community Affairs, the Better Hometown program provides economic development resources to communities with populations less than 5,000 (populations greater than 5,000 are designated Main Street Communities). Better Hometown follows a comprehensive revitalization process that improves all aspects of a commercial district. Tybee Island Better Hometown is a “self help” approach to economic development within the context of Historic Preservation for the Main Business Corridor designed to grow business and improve a community’s quality of life through public / private partnerships. It successfully integrates a practical management strategy with physical improvements of buildings and public spaces, promotion and image building, and economic development of the area.
What is the Main Street Approach to Commercial District Revitalization?
The Main Street Four-Point Approach™ is a community-driven, comprehensive methodology used to revitalize older, traditional business districts throughout the United States. It is a common-sense way to address the variety of issues and problems that face traditional business districts. The underlying premise of the Main Street approach is to encourage economic development within the context of historic preservation in ways appropriate to today's marketplace. The Main Street Approach advocates a return to community self-reliance, local empowerment, and the rebuilding of traditional commercial districts based on their unique assets: distinctive architecture, a pedestrian-friendly environment, personal service, local ownership, and a sense of community.
The Main Street Four-Point Approach™ is a comprehensive strategy that is tailored to meet local needs and opportunities. It encompasses work in four distinct areas — Design, Economic Restructuring, Promotion, and Organization — that are combined to address all of the commercial district's needs. The philosophy and the Eight Guiding Principles behind this methodology make it an effective tool for community-based, grassroots revitalization efforts. The Main Street approach has been successful in communities of all sizes, both rural and urban.
The Main Street 4-Point Approach(TM) is incremental. It is not designed to produce immediate change. It is designed to be long-lasting. Because they often fail to address the underlying causes of commercial district decline, expensive improvements, such as pedestrian malls or sports arenas, do not always generate the desired economic results. In order to succeed, a long-term revitalization effort requires careful attention to every aspect of downtown — a process that takes time, requires leadership and local capacity building. Coincidentally, the four points of the Main Street approach correspond with the four forces of real estate value, which are social, political, physical, and economic.
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