Thomas Worley

Tell us a little about yourself.
Please provide a brief background or bio, including any relevant experiences or interests. 

I grew up in the small town of Calhoun, Ga and moved to Savannah in 2005 to attend SCAD after a brief stint at Georgia State University. It was also around this time I found myself working in the service industry, bartending at the famous Bayou Cafe on Riverstreet. 

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My interests include playing music, gardening, artistic pursuits, philosophy and organizing events for friends and my community. 
 

How long have you lived in the Thomas Square neighborhood?
Please provide some details about your story in respect to how you came to live in our community. 

I have lived in Thomas Square since 2019, a year after opening my business the Lone Wolf Lounge. 

What do you do professionally?
Please share a bit about your profession and how it impacts you and your relationship with the community. 

After a decade of bartending on River Street, I opened Lone Wolf Lounge with my business partner Andrew Ripley. Since then, I have opened a restaurant on Tybee Island (Sea Wolf) and became a real estate developer centered around the 41st / Lincoln block. ​​I also play drums professionally and have been involved with several cross genre projects over the years. I also provide business planning and analytics for startups across several fields. 

Why are you interested in serving on the TSNA Board of Directors?
Explain what drew you to make this decision to volunteer to serve your community on the TSNA board.

My desire to serve on the TSNA board comes from two places - a need to preserve the character of what I consider the leading neighborhood in Savannah for local interest and a need to balance the growth of their premier neighborhood. 

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As downtown has become more and more developed by big money interests, Thomas Square became the last neighborhood for affordable living and business ventures. 

What do you see as the top challenges for our neighborhood, and how do you think the board should address them? 
Some examples we see as top issues facing our neighborhood in the coming years are the potential expansion of Savannah’s To-Go Cup district, hotel development, the ongoing affordable housing crisis, rising property taxes due to property value inflation, and increasing crime & homelessness challenges.

My main concern for Thomas Square is it's ability to maintain itegrity and purpose for residents and local businesses. Encroaching hotel development is one of the main issues that will jeopardize affordability and opportunity. 

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Additionally, lack of city services (trash cans / sanitation / 911) and proper bike and pedestrian crossing create a less than ideal situation for a neighborhood experiencing record levels of growth. 

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Without a strong sense of purpose and high community engagement Thomas Square could be jeopardized by outside opinions and money. Bolstering the culture and energy of this neighborhood is paramount. 

What steps would you take to bring the community together, inspire engagement, bolster membership & attendance at meetings, and give residents a stronger voice?
Community involvement has always been a cornerstone of the Thomas Square neighborhood, but there is much room to inspire more participation and engagement moving forward.  

If elected I will continue what I am already doing - bringing neighbors together. Lone Wolf Lounge was founded on this personal principle and that is still my modus operandi.

The more neighbors meet and converse, the stronger and safer this community becomes. This concept is applicable to Savannah as a whole but it is my current priority for Thomas Square. 

What skills, connections, resources, or expertise do you bring to the table that will help TSNA navigate these rapidly changing times and serve the neighborhood effectively? 

I am an excellent organizer of people, have a wide social net and a passion for identifying and solving problems
I can also offer any of the spaces I have built, including the new outside area on 41st Street as needed for events and organization.