Demolition Watch: Go See This Little Oakhurst Landmark Before It's Gone

We've lost bigger buildings, finer designs, and more historic places lately. But this funky little flatrion - I'm taking it pretty hard. I have an uncanny attachment to it and I'm not the only one.

It was still there on Friday May 1. Go see, there's a map at the bottom of this post.


It was last the Tabernacle Missionary Holiness Church. Before? Do you know? Do you have a picture?

" 102 Fifth Ave. was built c. 1916-1920. I suspect the City of Decatur is anxious to see this parcel open up for a number of reasons, one of the biggest being the current owner is a religious, i.e., tax-exempt, entity. When the City Commission approves the bid tonight, it will place a $21,000 lien on the property to cover the demolition costs, etc. Expect to see soon a request to rezone and redevelop the property so that the City can add it to the tax digest." Thanks to David Rotenstein



On one of our most picturesque streets, the oddest building is the most memorable.

" Bid Award.
Recommend accepting a proposal from Leon Benton Construction, Inc. of Atlanta, Georgia in the amount of $18,750 for the demolition and removal of a dilapidated building of the building at 102 Fifth Avenue. "


Somebody must have lived up there.


Why did they cover the brick?


Are folks squatting there?

If you can't get by, here's the video, about five minutes long.





From Dekalb County Tax Records


Go See.

More pictures of Tabernacle Missionary Holiness Church 102 5th Ave Decatur Georgia.

"Most landmarks and focal points in cities - of which we need more, not fewer - come from the contrast of use radically different from its surroundings, and therefore inherently special-looking, happily located to make some drama and contrast of the inherent difference ... noble buildings ... set within the matrix of the city, instead being sorted out and withdrawn into 'courts of honor'"- Page 228, ”The Death and Life of Great American Cities” - Jane Jacobs, Vintage Books Edition 1991

5+1 Teardown Works in Progress

Lenox Park getting sod.


Morningside


Morningside


Midtown


Morningside


Oakhurst


Virginia Highland. Poptop? Teardown? Reno? I caught this one just in time.

Neoclassical Erratics in Decatur and Druid Hills

"A glacial erratic is a piece of rock that differs from the size and type of rock native to the area in which it rests." Henceforth, an Architecture Tourist erratic is a building that differs from those native to the area in which it rests.

Finding great houses in Buckhead, Druid Hills, Inman Park, Ansley Park is like shooting fish a barrel. It's a great pleasure but not really a sport.

If size doesn't matter, there are great houses all over Atlanta. Finding them IS a sport, a sport I dearly love, finding erratics most of all.

Here is a beaut: a POMO in Druid Hills with a neoclassical portico. Is it really a POMO? I haven't had my POMO lesson yet. (Hint hint Michelle.)


A modern in Druid Hills? I can only think of 4, one is effectively invisible except from the golf course.

This erratic is a modern married to a tiny Greek tomb, perhaps from Oakland Cemetery. It's a shape I can't resist. There's a bridge to boot. It's not the sort of thing you see in Druid Hills.


To my eye it's always a treat, always in flux. It's good sport looking for it. Email me for a hint.


Later, turning for home from Decatur I chose to do Oakhurst because I can't resist the Neel Reid designed Solarium, then Kirkwood because Howard Avenue never disappoints , then Edgewood because it's streets aren't thoroughfares and I don't know them well, then ... well I'm getting carried away now.

I turned down Wisteria for the first time. Among the very modest well kept ranchers, I found this neoclassical erratic. The shock faded quickly, the sensation was like finding a mansion in a small southern town. They all have a few mansions.


There are several of these around East Lake and Kirkwood. I'd guess the original estate was subdivided in the 50's. By then the gentry was long gone to Buckhead.

The Decatur - Kirkwood axis is amazingly flat for Atlanta. It makes for an uncharacteristically welcoming front porch, thus the "Keep Out" sign.


The semi-circular side porch is charming.


If the long dripping window unit is any indication, the house is long past it's salad days. But the roof looks good, the paint is pretty fresh.




There's a big 1 story porch on the back.

The most charming building in Atlanta by Neel Reid and Hal Hentz

The Scottish Rite Convalescent Hospital for Crippled Children is now called "The Solariam at Old Scottish Rite." It's in the Oakhurst neighborhood in southwest Decatur. The Oakhurst commercial center is a gem that hasn't quite found it's modern legs yet. Residents probably like it that way.

Here is eastern solarium. There is another one to the west. It's just delightful. Is there anything like it in Atlanta? Think of all the children who must have gotten a bit of comfort there. You can rent it for a wedding or a party.


You won't find Oakhurst unless you are on the way from Druid Hills to East Lake Country Club. Architecture tourists who find their way once will find excuses to revisit, maybe the Pink mirror wall on Oakview, The biggest chair in Atlanta, or the wonderful Alston House, Meadow Nook.

It's on a 5-part Palladian site plan. Here is the central building decorated with brick coins and lentils, a red tile roof. My pictures don't capture the the warm feeling of the whole property.


An important but humane entrance.


The eastern detached building is modest and beautiful, single windows, triple windows, arches, coins, tile, little lanterns. It took a lot of design to resist fussiness.


There's no trouble finding the front door with rusticated surround and 2nd floor window in matching color.


Visit this great place to give your spirits a lift.