South Downtown
Encyclopedia
South Downtown is an urban sub-district of Downtown Atlanta, Georgia
, United States
, north of I-20, east of Castleberry Hill
, south of Five Points
, and west of I-85. According to CAP/ADID, South Downtown is one of the oldest sections of Downtown Atlanta. This part of Downtown is primarily home to the city, county, state, and federal governmental offices, which prompted the city to adopt signage declaring the area "Government Walk." Underground Atlanta
is the primary shopping and entertainment center near South Downtown but it, along with the railroad gulch, separates the district from Five Points and the Hotel District
. Although much of South Downtown is dominated by surface parking lots, the district was passed over during the redevelopment boom of the 1960s and 70s that resulted in the demolition of much of Downtown's architecturally significant
buildings. The result are myriad buildings from the 1950s and earlier that remain ripe for renovation.
. The buildings are the most intact row of early 20th century commercial structures in the city, and once formed Atlanta's original business district. They include Concordia Hall (1892), the Gordon Hotel, the Scoville (1908), the Sylvan (1908), and two commercial structures. The decline of Hotel Row began in the 1920s due to the increased availability of automobile transportation and the construction of the Spring Street viaduct, which made getting to hotels in the northern part of the city easier. In the 1950s and 60s, the increase in air travel led ultimately to the demolition of Terminal Station in 1971.
The district is architecturally significant because the structures that make up the block retain most of their original historic architectural character. Several structures were developed by Samuel Inman and Walker Inman, two of Atlanta's most prominent businessmen, and the majority of the structures were designed by the leading architects of the period. They typify the early 20th century commercial structures once common in Atlanta but now rare because of extensive redevelopment. The district consists of one block of early 20th century commercial buildings, 3-4 stories high, brick load-bearing construction, timber interior framework, with stores at ground level. With Atlanta's massive gentrification, plans were underway to convert some of the buildings into lofts, however these plans ultimately stalled as a result of the Great Recession.
Hotel Row is listed on the National Register of Historic Places
.
between the Castleberry Hill
neighborhood to its west and Peachtree Street
to the east.
To the east of Central Avenue, aside from the Georgia State Capitol
, many State of Georgia offices are located in this district, such as the Georgia Department of Transportation (GDOT), Georgia Department of Agriculture, and the Georgia Supreme Court.
provides public transportation to the district through the Garnett Transit Station
, located on Peachtree Street.
Many commuters from the southern suburbs who work in Downtown travel on South Downtown's streets when heading to work. Many streets in this district are one-way, similar to the other districts that make up Downtown.
Downtown Atlanta
Downtown Atlanta is the first and largest of the three financial districts in the city of Atlanta. Downtown Atlanta is the location of many corporate or regional headquarters, city, county, state and federal government facilities, sporting facilities, and is the central tourist attraction of the city...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, north of I-20, east of Castleberry Hill
Castleberry Hill
Castleberry Hill is a neighborhood in central Atlanta, Georgia located adjacent to and southwest of the Central Business District. It is a federally recognized historic district since 1985 and became a City of Atlanta Landmark District in 2006...
, south of Five Points
Five Points (Atlanta)
Five Points is a district of Atlanta, Georgia, United States, the primary reference for the downtown area. The name refers to the convergence of Marietta Street, Edgewood Avenue, Decatur Street, and two legs of Peachtree Street Five Points is a district of Atlanta, Georgia, United States, the...
, and west of I-85. According to CAP/ADID, South Downtown is one of the oldest sections of Downtown Atlanta. This part of Downtown is primarily home to the city, county, state, and federal governmental offices, which prompted the city to adopt signage declaring the area "Government Walk." Underground Atlanta
Underground Atlanta
Underground Atlanta is a shopping and entertainment district in the Five Points neighborhood of downtown Atlanta, Georgia, United States, near the intersection of the east and west MARTA rail lines. First opened in 1969, it takes advantage of the viaducts built over the city's many railroad tracks...
is the primary shopping and entertainment center near South Downtown but it, along with the railroad gulch, separates the district from Five Points and the Hotel District
Hotel District
The Hotel District is a neighborhood in Downtown Atlanta, Georgia, United States, located north of Five Points. The district's name is derived from it being the home to many hotels, one of them being the famous Westin Peachtree Plaza Hotel....
. Although much of South Downtown is dominated by surface parking lots, the district was passed over during the redevelopment boom of the 1960s and 70s that resulted in the demolition of much of Downtown's architecturally significant
Architectural History
Architectural History is the main journal of the Society of Architectural Historians of Great Britain .The journal is published each autumn. The architecture of the British Isles is a major theme of the journal, although it includes more general papers on the history of architecture. Member of...
buildings. The result are myriad buildings from the 1950s and earlier that remain ripe for renovation.
Hotel Row
Hotel Row is a single block of commercial buildings, originally hotels, located on Mitchell Street west of Forsyth Street, built to serve the needs of passengers from Terminal StationTerminal Station (Atlanta)
Terminal Station in Atlanta was the larger of two principal train stations in downtown, Union Station being the other. Opening in 1905, Terminal Station served Southern Railway, Seaboard Air Line, Central of Georgia , and the Atlanta and West Point. The architect was P...
. The buildings are the most intact row of early 20th century commercial structures in the city, and once formed Atlanta's original business district. They include Concordia Hall (1892), the Gordon Hotel, the Scoville (1908), the Sylvan (1908), and two commercial structures. The decline of Hotel Row began in the 1920s due to the increased availability of automobile transportation and the construction of the Spring Street viaduct, which made getting to hotels in the northern part of the city easier. In the 1950s and 60s, the increase in air travel led ultimately to the demolition of Terminal Station in 1971.
The district is architecturally significant because the structures that make up the block retain most of their original historic architectural character. Several structures were developed by Samuel Inman and Walker Inman, two of Atlanta's most prominent businessmen, and the majority of the structures were designed by the leading architects of the period. They typify the early 20th century commercial structures once common in Atlanta but now rare because of extensive redevelopment. The district consists of one block of early 20th century commercial buildings, 3-4 stories high, brick load-bearing construction, timber interior framework, with stores at ground level. With Atlanta's massive gentrification, plans were underway to convert some of the buildings into lofts, however these plans ultimately stalled as a result of the Great Recession.
Hotel Row is listed on the National Register of Historic Places
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
.
Railroad District
In 2007, the Downtown Atlanta Improvement District designated the area as the Railroad District. The name is applied to 20 blocks of the downtown area south of Five PointsFive Points (Atlanta)
Five Points is a district of Atlanta, Georgia, United States, the primary reference for the downtown area. The name refers to the convergence of Marietta Street, Edgewood Avenue, Decatur Street, and two legs of Peachtree Street Five Points is a district of Atlanta, Georgia, United States, the...
between the Castleberry Hill
Castleberry Hill
Castleberry Hill is a neighborhood in central Atlanta, Georgia located adjacent to and southwest of the Central Business District. It is a federally recognized historic district since 1985 and became a City of Atlanta Landmark District in 2006...
neighborhood to its west and Peachtree Street
Peachtree Street
Peachtree Street is the main street of Atlanta. The city grew up around the street, and many of its historical and municipal buildings are or were located along it...
to the east.
Government facilities
South Downtown is home to the governmental facilities of the City of Atlanta, Fulton County, and the State of Georgia. South Downtown is also home to federal government offices. This concentration of governmental facilities influenced the city's decision to market the area as "Government Walk." A list of the most well known government buildings in this district are:- Atlanta City HallAtlanta City HallSince Atlanta was founded, there have been four official city halls of Atlanta.-Antebellum:After half a decade of makeshift meeting places for city business , in 1853 mayor of Atlanta John Mims purchased the four-acre "Peters's Reserve" from Richard Peters for $5,000...
- Georgia State CapitolGeorgia State CapitolThe Georgia State Capitol, in Atlanta, Georgia, in the United States, is an architecturally and historically significant building. It has been named a National Historic Landmark and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. It is the main office building of Georgia's government...
- Fulton County CourthouseFulton County Courthouse (Georgia)The Fulton County Courthouse, built between 1911 and 1914, is an historic courthouse building located at 160 Pryor Street SW in Atlanta, Georgia, the Fulton county seat. It was designed by noted Atlanta-based architect A. Ten Eyck Brown , along with the Atlanta firm of Morgan and Dillon. It is...
- Martin Luther King Jr. Federal Building
- Sam Nunn Atlanta Federal Center
- Richard B. Russell Federal Building
To the east of Central Avenue, aside from the Georgia State Capitol
Georgia State Capitol
The Georgia State Capitol, in Atlanta, Georgia, in the United States, is an architecturally and historically significant building. It has been named a National Historic Landmark and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. It is the main office building of Georgia's government...
, many State of Georgia offices are located in this district, such as the Georgia Department of Transportation (GDOT), Georgia Department of Agriculture, and the Georgia Supreme Court.
Transportation
MARTAMetropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority
The Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority or MARTA is the principal rapid-transit system in the Atlanta metropolitan area and the ninth-largest in the United States. Formed in 1971 as strictly a bus system, MARTA operates a network of bus routes linked to a rapid transit system consisting...
provides public transportation to the district through the Garnett Transit Station
Garnett (MARTA station)
Garnett is an elevated Rail station on the Red and Gold lines of the Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority rail system, located in South Downtown. It has an island platform between two tracks. This station has three levels to it. It was opened on December 4, 1981...
, located on Peachtree Street.
Many commuters from the southern suburbs who work in Downtown travel on South Downtown's streets when heading to work. Many streets in this district are one-way, similar to the other districts that make up Downtown.
- Peachtree StreetPeachtree StreetPeachtree Street is the main street of Atlanta. The city grew up around the street, and many of its historical and municipal buildings are or were located along it...
, south of the railroad gulch, has a multitude of stores along its stretch between Alabama Street and Martin Luther King Jr. Drive. It is the primary two way north-south street in this district. - Trinity Avenue and Memorial Drive are the only two-way streets in South Downtown that run east and west. Trinity Avenue is signed as Georgia State Route (SR) 154 until it ends at Memorial Drive near Capitol Avenue at the eastern end of the South Downtown, where Memorial Drive becomes Georgia SR 154.
- Central Avenue is a primary northbound street through the district. It is the main route for commuters into Downtown from the southern suburbs. The Fulton County Justice Center is located at 185 Central Avenue SW.
- Pryor Street is a primary southbound street through the district. It is one of the routes out of Downtown when commuters head back to the southern and western suburbs. The Fulton County Courthouse is located at 136 Pryor Street SW and the Fulton County Government Center is located at 141 Pryor Street SW.