Beltline Community Feedback

The Atlanta Beltline Community is seeking feedback, including input regarding historic preservation, using an online survey. Access the survey at: http://www.beltlinecommunity.com/communityinput.asp.

615 Peachtree Street Building Demolished

UPDATE 3/17/2006 (New Photograph 6/25/2006 – Curtain wall demolition underway):

One of several video clips of the building implosion posted on YouTube:

Demolition to start in April 2006?

We understand that demolition is scheduled to begin in April and public access to the main level will end with the closing of the Wachovia branch bank (March 24th).

Please post your comments/observations regarding the building here.

In the February 8, 2006 Atlanta Journal Constitution:

http://www.ajc.com/business/content/business/stories/0208bizcousins.html

Writer Walter Woods describes a plans for “two condo towers, retail on site near Fox Theatre.” Descriptions do not include enough detail to understand the design, other than a general description of a 30-story residential high-rise facing Ponce de Leon Avenue and a second tower facing Peachtree Street. The story does not indicate that rehabilitation or adaptive use of the building was considered prior to the decision to demolish.

Tenants at 615 Peachtree Street, a modern landmark, have been evicted in preparation for demolition by Cousins Properties. Unfortunately, occupancy and design of the proposed development for the site has not been finalized, according to a recent Atlanta Business Chronicle article.

From the December 16-22 Atlanta Business Chronicle:

“Peachtree block to get face-lift” details Cousins Properties Inc. plans to “soon demolish the building [12-story Wachovia building] and neighboring garage to make way for a mixed-use project.” The next paragraph describes plans: “Exactly what the mix of uses will be, however, has not been decided.”

From the Fall 2005, DOCOMOMO/US, Georgia Chapter Newsletter (Jon Buono):

Originally commissioned by First National Bank of Atlanta (later purchased by Wachovia), the building was designed by Smith & Smith Architects of Atlanta. Francis P. Smith, a student of the noted American architect Paul Cret (1876-1945), moved to Atlanta in 1909 to become the first chairman of Georgia Tech’s newly established architecture department. He worked in that capacity until 1922 when he returned to private practice.

The next year he formed a partnership with established Atlanta architect R. S. Pringle. The partnership lasted until 1934, during which time Pringle & Smith designed several important buildings in Atlanta, including the Rhodes-Haverty Building (1928) and the William-Oliver Building (1930). Pringle retired in the 1930s, but Smith continued to practice independently. Smith’s son, Henry H., followed his father’s footsteps to the University of Pennsylvania, and after ending his military service in the 1950s, joined his father in practice.

Prior to 615 Peachtree, Francis had served as an architect to First National on numerous projects. The city’s widening of North Avenue, and subsequent narrowing of First National’s property at the intersection of Peachtree prompted the new commission. The client decided to raze an existing branch bank on site and develop the property for commercial office space.

Fourth Annual Phoenix Flies: March 4-12

FYI:

Visit www.preserveatlanta.com for more information about the events and the Atlanta Preservation Center:

The Fourth Annual Phoenix Flies: A Citywide Celebration of Living Landmarks March 4-12, 2006

Schedule of Events

Saturday, March 4
9 am-noon, Grant Park Conservancy’s First Saturday Work Day, 404-521-0938 10 am, Free guided walking tours of The Fox Theatre, Sweet Auburn/Martin Luther King Jr. Historic District and Druid Hills, 404-688-3350 10 am, Free Urban Experience, children’s tour of Downtown, reservations required, 404-688-3353, x11 11 am, Free guided walking tours of The Fox Theatre and Historic Downtown, 404-688-3350 11 am – 4 pm, Free on-the-hour Trolley Tours of the Auburn Avenue community by the National Park Service, 404-331-5190 11, 1 & 3 pm, Free guided history tours of Underground Atlanta, 404-523-2311 1 – 5 pm, Free Scavenger Hunt at Oakland Cemetery , 404-688-2107

Sunday, March 5
8 – 10 am, Coffee with the Conservancy at Grant Park Conservancy, 404-521-0938 9 am-4:30 pm, Free tours of Atlanta Cyclorama with day pass from Grant Park Walking Tour, 404-688-3353, x11. Meet at 10 am at Grant Park Conservancy, corner of Sydney & Broyles Streets 10 am, Free guided walking tour of Grant Park, 404-688-3350 2 pm, Free guided walking tour of Inman Park , 404-688-3350 2 – 4 pm,Free Open House at Callanwolde Fine Arts Center , 404- 872-5338 4 pm, Lecture and book signing for The Winecoff Fire: The Untold Story of America’s Deadliest Hotel Fire with Sam Heys and Alan Goodwin at the Margaret Mitchell House & Museum; reservations, 770-578-3502; $10 (free to MMH&M, AHC and APC members) 5 pm, Free guided walking tour of Battle of Atlanta in East Atlanta ; reservations required, 404-688-3353, x11

February Meeting

February Meeting

The February meeting was a great success. Thanks to all who helped make it happen. The location and program emphasized the significance of the proposed Beltline.

Read the original post about February’s meeting here. Don’t forget the upcoming March 20 meeting, Beyond the Perimeter: Modern Architecture in Rural Georgia.

Atlanta Advocacy Update

Data sheets are now available about two threatened properties, 615 Peachtree Street (PDF, click here) and the Firestone Auto Supply and Service Store at 1052 Peachtree Street (PDF, click here).

Read earlier posts concerning 615 Peachtree Street and the Firestone Auto Supply and Service Store.

APTI 2006 Conference: UPDATED DEADLINE March 8

The Association for Preservation Technology is accepting abstracts through March 8 for paper presentations for its Atlanta 2006 conference. Papers are being solicited in the areas of:
1.Expanding Horizons
2.Conserving Innovative Materials and Technologies
3.Balancing Modern Intervention and Traditional Craft

Details about the Conference, the Call for Papers and the Abstract Submission Form are available at www.apti.org.

Spring 2006 Newsletter

The Georgia Chapter of DOCOMOMO_US (documentation & conservation of the modern movement) requests submissions for the Spring 2006 Newsletter:

• Essays on topics related to modern architecture, landscapes, design, or preservation
• Reports of Saved or Threatened properties/resources in Georgia
• Contributions to the DOCOMOMO GA Register
• Relevant Book Reviews
• Member News
• Modern Property Listings for Sale in Georgia
• Related Conference, Exhibit, or Event Listings for late March ‘06- August ’06

INTRODUCING A NEW FEATURE:

DOCOMOMO’s interest in the modern movement extends from roughly the 1920s to the 1970s. But the term “modern” is simultaneously ascribed to a period of time, an approach to design, and a process of social change. It’s no wonder that architectural historians and scholars of material culture continue to debate the definition of “the modern”. But let’s ignore those eggheads for a moment.

ARTchitecture: The revolution has begun

In this week’s Creative Loafing (January 18), writer Michael Wall discusses recently built projects in Midtown, focusing on new signature buildings such as Renzo Piano’s High expansion and the wildly successful Metropolis condominium project. Unfortunately rare in the Atlanta press, this type of observation of the built environment helps stimulate sorely needed discussion and debate, as evidenced by comments posted on the Creative Loafing site (click here for article and discussion).

Other than a brief critique of architect John Portman’s urban planning skills, what Wall doesn’t mention is Atlanta’s great Modern tradition – and the fact that it is disappearing at an alarming rate, as evidenced by previous posts at this site, here, and elsewhere.