Atlanta halts Peachtree Circle historic district proposal
Add Axios as your preferred source to
see more of our stories on Google.
The Randolph-Lucas-Jones House on Peachtree Circle in Atlanta's Ansley Park neighborhood. Photo: Courtesy of David Mitchell/Atlanta Preservation Center
A proposal to create a historic district along Peachtree Circle in Atlanta's Ansley Park neighborhood suffered a major setback last week, when the City Council voted to shelve the proposal.
Why it matters: Supporters said the historic district would protect the street's oldest and most eye-catching homes from demolition or changes that would permanently alter their early 20th-century architecture.
The latest: The City Council on Monday voted 11-4 to file the legislation, meaning it will be on hold for an indefinite period of time.
What they're saying: Roger Smith, who purchased and relocated the iconic Randolph-Lucas-Jones House to 78 Peachtree Circle and is a proponent of the historic district, told Axios he was "very disappointed that it's gone this way."
- "I think that it is imperative that we get some sort of overlay protection, particularly for Peachtree Circle," he said. "I just think that if we do not take action on some level now, it's going to be a drastic change."
How it works: The city of Atlanta has a Historic and Landmark Districts ordinance outlining how buildings and other structures in designated areas must be maintained.
The other side: Council member Alex Wan, who said he would not support the designation unless the advocates received support from two-thirds of neighbors, said the process has resulted in a "really painful and unfortunate dynamic that is happening in the neighborhood."
- "I can't say I'm surprised, but I'm definitely disappointed in the rhetoric that is flying around there about me on this, and I've had to be very frostily dispassionate on this because of the intensity of the positions on both sides of this," he said.
- Wan said of the 72 properties on the street, the latest count was that 39 were in support, 26 were opposed and seven did not respond to the petition.
The intrigue: Council member Michael Julian Bond, who voted against filing the ordinance, asked whether a compromise in which the district would include only properties in support of the designation could be reached.
- "It'd be great to have everyone, but if you don't [and] if you can save and preserve what you can save and preserve, I think it would probably be worthy of that," he said.
- Wan said that would mean creating a new ordinance, thus forcing the proposal to go through the zoning process again.
What we're watching: David Yoakley Mitchell, executive director of the Atlanta Preservation Center, said he doesn't think the push to create a historic district for Peachtree Circle is over.
- "I do not see this going away," he said. "I see it manifesting another way."