Factors Walk

Factors Walk

A section of Factors Walk, looking east, near Emmet Park
Length	0.4 mi (0.64 km)
Location	Savannah, Georgia, U.S.
West end	Barnard Street
East end	East Broad Street
Construction
Completion	c. 1810

Factors Walk, also commonly spelled Factor's Walk or Factors' Walk, is a historic street in Savannah, Georgia, United States. It runs for about 0.4 miles (0.64 km) along the upper levels of the southern frontages of the buildings of Factors Row, which is located between River Street to the north and Bay Street, around 40 feet (12 m) above on the bluff, to the south. Although this difference in elevation was advantageous in terms of defense, it did not provide easy movement between the working waterfront and the city above.^[1]

In certain aspects, Factors Walk can be considered a harbinger to the formation of River Street, which it pre-dates by a generation. Once River Street began to develop, in the mid-19th century, its numerous wharves and the inconsistent shapes of the buildings facing the Savannah River made traversing along the thoroughfare difficult, especially on its busiest days. Thus, Factors Walk evolved as a much more free-flowing passageway for factors and business owners to utilize.

Initially used by delivery wagons, with horse sheds existing at select points,^[2] it was developed into two levels, with pedestrian gangways and other structures connecting Factors Row, above, to Bay Street,^[3] to prevent workers and vendors having to descend to Factors Walk. Perpendicular ramps were constructed down through Factors Walk to River Street from the north–south–running Barnard, Abercorn, Lincoln and East Broad Streets, which provided access to and from the downtown. Initially straight, several of the ramps were curved during work done in the 1850s.