Ga. State to demolish nearly 100-year-old building in MLK Historic District
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The old substation building at 148 Edgewood Ave. in Downtown Atlanta. Photo: Courtesy of David Mitchell/Atlanta Preservation Center
More than two months after a tense public hearing on a proposal to demolish a nearly 100-year-old building for its campus expansion project, Georgia State University will move ahead with tearing down the building.
Why it matters: The old substation at 148 Edgewood Ave. is within the local Martin Luther King Jr. Historic District, and preservationists say demolishing such structures will make it harder to tell Atlanta's history through those spaces.
The latest: The university confirmed to Axios that "after careful evaluation and public input," it will tear down the "long-vacant" building to construct what it calls a Fraternity and Sorority Life Plaza.
- The plaza will serve as greenspace for students who reside in its Greek life housing development.
- A mural will also be installed to honor the history of the building and celebrate Greek groups on campus, GSU said.
What they're saying: GSU added it will salvage the brickwork from 148 Edgewood and incorporate it into the new space "as a tribute to its legacy."
- It also said the $12 million estimate to renovate 148 Edgewood for reuse "outweighs its limited ability to benefit students and faculty."
The other side: David Y. Mitchell, executive director of the Atlanta Preservation Center and an opponent of GSU's plan, said in a statement to Axios that his organization hoped GSU would have given the building "the respect it has both earned and been recognized with."
- "Destroying this building will remove yet one more of the structures that somehow survived and visually represents how we became Atlanta."
Catch up quick: Residents and historic preservationists began raising concerns about GSU's plans last year and created a petition to raise awareness.
- A contentious public hearing and open house was held May 28 where GSU officials and Greek life students debated with residents and other stakeholders whether to reuse or demolish 148 Edgewood.
Zoom out: Demolishing the old substation, as well as Sparks Hall at 33 Gilmer St., is part of GSU's larger, long-range plan to create a "true college town downtown."
- A Panther Quad, which will rise in place of Sparks Hall, will feature additional greenspace that will connect to the campus' existing greenway.
- Gilmer Street will be transformed into a car-free zone to improve connectivity with Hurt Park, GSU officials previously told Axios.
Flashback: The 148 Edgewood building was constructed as a substation in 1926 by the company now known as Georgia Power to supply electricity to Downtown, Kyle Kessler, a resident who opposes the demolition, told Axios last year.
- The power company sold the building to GSU in 1966, Kessler said.
What's next: GSU said the timeline for the project is "under review."