Cristy Llewellyn Lawrence has been appointed as the Senior Director of Real Estate and Capital Projects for the City of Savannah, following a national recruitment process. Lawrence has over three decades of experience in civil engineering, real estate development, and capital project management in both public and private sectors. She has worked with the City of Savannah for more than 12 years, including seven years as Senior Director of Capital Projects Management, and most recently served as Acting Senior Director.
In her previous position, Lawrence led major civic, public safety, and community facility projects valued at over $500 million. These initiatives aimed to support neighborhood vitality and improve quality of life across Savannah.
City Manager Jay Melder stated: “Cristy brings a wealth of experience and a strong understanding of the organization. She has led complex projects across multiple service areas, and her leadership will support the City as it moves forward with its real estate and capital initiatives.”
Before joining the City, Lawrence spent 18 years in the private sector providing engineering consulting and design services to various clients. She is a licensed Professional Engineer with degrees from Duke University (B.S. in Civil Engineering) and Georgia Southern University (MBA).
At the end of 2025, the City reorganized its Capital Projects Management division under the Department of Real Estate Services to enhance coordination and operational efficiency. This reorganization unified real estate functions, facilities maintenance, and capital project delivery within one department. Civic Center Operations also remain part of this department for integrated asset management.
The Department now oversees all aspects of the City’s real estate portfolio, including property acquisitions and dispositions, lease administration, facility maintenance for city-owned properties, operating contracts for venues such as the Civic Center and Enmarket Arena, as well as managing construction projects from implementation to budget oversight.
Lawrence expressed her appreciation for the appointment: “I’m grateful for the opportunity to continue this work and for the trust placed in me. This role allows us to take a more coordinated approach to managing the City’s facilities and capital projects, and I look forward to working with our teams to deliver projects that serve our residents and support City operations.”
