Teardown 2 of 4 Complete - Poptop on Johnson Estates Creek Bluff

I think the designer/builder has to be very good to do poptops. It takes a lot of experience to manage the design/budget/market tradeoffs. John Willis Custom Homes did this one. I think they do them as well or better than anyone in town and they really know this neighborhood.


They could have torn it down and rebuilt from scratch. Perhaps they would have in 2006.


It was a 1948 rancher on 1/4 acre, about 1,600 square feet. Notice the recessed porch? Will they keep it?


Here it is in context. It sits on the bluff side of the South Fork of Peachtree Creek. They might be able to see the creek in winter from the new second floor.

The house on the right has already be done It is a colossal improvement over the house it replaced with it's hexagonal picture window.


You must have tall ceilings these days. So you tear off the roof AND the ceiling joists. Then you build a knee wall, maybe 2 feet taller and a new joist system fit for a 2nd floor.


They kept as much brick as they could.

I thought it was taking forever, then one day:


They've got a bit more landscaping to do.


It's the one on the left. It's blends rather than shouts.


They kept the recessed porch and built massive front steps. I don't think this top dead center picture is it's most flattering angle.

The landscaping awaits a budget infusion to soften up the stairs and porch.

Compare these two poptops in wood and stucco:

• "gabling a bungalow pop-top"
• "stucco, Voysey & gables galore"

Next: 3 of 4 is a teardown where style matters.

BONUS: Teardown 7 of 5 is done, big change in personality

By the time I noticed it already seemed to belong.

Here is house 1 of 5, house 2 of 5, house 3 of 5, house 4 of 5, and house 5 of 5, house 6 of 5.


According to tax records it's a 1951'er, 1568 square feet on 0.1997 acre. Do you think the Chinese Chippendale balustrade or walls of windows were orginal?


Morningside is our signature street. It has 3 different sections with 3 different personalities. As you head east the houses are a bit more modest and more ripe for tearing down.


The 1991 teardown on the right has about 3000 square feet on 1/5 acre with a garage built into the hill. Our teardown was cute but was looking a little puny.



Built by JackBilt Development Company LLC. I like the brick





Quite handsome I think and not like any of the others in this series.


My picture doesn't show it well, but the house looks as if it has always been there.

Here is house 1 of 5, house 2 of 5, house 3 of 5, house 4 of 5, and house 5 of 5, house 6 of 5.

BONUS: Teardown 6 of 5 is done, gabling a bungalow pop-top.

This was a 1925 bungalow, 1,633 square feet on .1722 acre.

There are so many of these left because they are handsome, practical, and lovable. Folks have figured out how to upgrade them so they can live "modern" in great old neighborhoods.

So they didn't tear this one down. They added 1,384 square feet and renovated the rest.

Here is house 1 of 5, house 2 of 5, house 3 of 5, house 4 of 5, and house 5 of 5, house 6 of 5. house 7 of 5.


Will the green brick survive?


I'd seen this on 100's of times, it's on my regular route. It's a terminated vista where one road T-bones into another. You can't miss it.

Like most Atlanta houses it was a bit overgrown.


As usual I didn't look closely until the dumpster arrived. How about that brick? How about those windows How about the tall molding under the eaves?


Obviously a pop-top.


The sawed the back part of the roof clean off. Were they adding something on the back too?


Aha, 2-storying the back.


Aha.


What will happen to the green brick?


It's not green any more.


Gables galore.

Here is house 1 of 5, house 2 of 5, house 3 of 5, house 4 of 5, and house 5 of 5, house 6 of 5. house 7 of 5.

Top popped - adding 2nd floor in Morningside.

Built in 1930, 1730 square feet on 1/5 acre, it's getting taller.


This wasn't it's prettiest day.


I caught this one before they started demolition.


The houses on either side have already be done; they are big now.


This was in pretty good shape, it was holding it's on.


That was then.


This is now.


They've added a foundation for a big front porch. Looks like they are keeping most of the front. Good idea.


There's going to be some 3rd floor living space.

I'll report.

Prominent Teardown/Poptop on North Highland -Part 2

It should be better than than "a place you just want to get through."

This is an important neighborhood intersection with a traffic light. The renovation of the house on the NE corner will make a difference. (Continued from "Part 1.)

This place has been a constant in my life for more than 30 years. I feel sentimental about it though my brain mostly tunes it out.

Here is the corner house scorecard. Each is a terminal vista.


Here is the SE house from the western approach facing east in the right turn lane.


A close look reveals some seriously good detailing. It's a busy place. I understand the excess bushiness.


If we're going straight or turning left, we see the poptop on the NE corner.


It's looking blue.


From the eastern approach on Morningside (facing west) we see the belle of the ball, Anshi S'fard. It's on the SW corner. This was converted from residential in the late 40's / ealy 50's. It "honors" the corner by being kitty-cornered, facing smack into the center of the intersection. That makes a difference.


What columns, what a porch, it's sturdy and solid; it faces out; it welcomes in.


The northern approach looking south on Highland also features Anshi S'fard and the side of the next house.


Pretty good even in the rain.


This is the southern approach on Highland looking north. The NW terminal vista is a line of 1-story jobs.


This is such a familiar sight, not a landmark view but interesting. With hips, gables, bricks, chimneys, stucco, and paneling there is genuine variety, far more than we'd find in similar houses built lately. It keeps me interested.


I think the corner house is multi-family. The hedge, always neatly trimmed, offers a bit of privacy.

This is very early in the story. I'll get back to you.

Let's have another look at Anshi S'fard before we go.

Very Prominent Teardown/Poptop on North Highland -Part 1

It's at the corner of Morningside and North Highland, one of our busiest crossroads. The curves and hills make this house a terminal vista. This one will have more visual impact than other renovations in the neighborhood. Could it be too good?

They seem to be raising the roof rather than tearing it down.


On Tuesday guys in HASMAT suits started on the siding, working in the rain.


I wonder if they'll keep the porch a porch. I always liked it.


This is the approach on Morningside. You can't miss it. It's not a landmark building; it was never meant to be fabulous, more a work-a-day family home.

The 2 Morningside/Rockspring intersections are a bit more upscale; so is the Rocksprings/North Highland intersection.


This was a quadraplex. That tax records imply that it was converted from single family, who knows when?

It was always well kept. The generous front porch seemed cozy even on this intersection.


I always wonder how they fit four apartments in there. The skylights must light a livable upstairs.


Must be a unit downstairs too.

I wonder what it will look like. I wonder if it will remain multi-unit or go single-family.


I hope it's good.

In Part 2 I'll show you the intersection.