Historic Adair Park in Southwest Atlanta
Angel Poventud’s vision for an abandoned bungalow in Southwest Atlanta came to fruition as a place to host community meetings, candidates for office and couch-surfers from around the world.
As a Capitol View resident of nearly 20 years, Neda Abghari has often ventured into nearby Adair Park, gazed upon the Academic Gothic architecture of George W. Adair School, and wondered what it used to be, below the surface, on a deeper level than classroom education.
Built in 1912, the school was the community’s central hub for decades, a relic of a time before school cafeterias, when kids were sent home for lunch each day, laughing, teasing, chasing each other en route. The school closed about 45 years ago, as surrounding neighborhoods tumbled into blight, and the building functioned as central offices and meeting space for Atlanta Public Schools until the roof sprung leaks in the 1990s—an issue that six layers of tarps failed to resolve. Abghari’s visits to the old school in its most exposed, dank, and weather-ravaged state were disheartening. Read more >
Incredible spotlight on our neighbors Adam and Becca Stanley and their impact on our community.
Read more on Curbed >
The Rollerson House in Adair Park, completed in 1890. Michael Kahn, Curbed Atlanta
ADAIR PARK – This is a story about what happens when you say “Yes.”
‘Yes’ instead of “It’s not my place,” or “It’s not my business,” or “It’s not my problem.”
In this case the yeses came from a couple who just wanted a cute house for not a lot of money. “It was an inexpensive house that we could afford to buy.”
Becky and Tim O’Mara sit on their front porch. The porch was what sealed the deal on their affordable fixer upper in the middle of Adair Park.
Virginia-Highland? You’re way too late, my friend. Old Fourth Ward? You’re lucky to find an affordable apartment. Inman Park? Keep playing the lottery. If you’re looking to buy a starter home along the Atlanta Beltline, turn your back to the Eastside Trail and head to southwest Atlanta, where strong neighborhoods along the under-construction Westside Trail — Capitol View, Westview, West End, and Capitol View Manor to mention a few — are seeing vacant houses turn back into homes and new residents join longtimers.
Please take a moment to fill out the Adair Park Today Bylaw Survey. You can fill it out online here OR print the PDF below and return to Justin Wood, Parliamentarian.
Tuesday August 4, 2015
4:00 pm – 8:00 pm
Rosa Burney Park
Located At: 477 Windsor Street, Atlanta, Ga. 30312
(in the Mechanicsville Community)
All are invited to this Community Block Party which promotes community pride and community safety! Fun for the ENTIRE family!Free Food and Free Give-A-Ways!
-Interactive Games and Moon Bounces
-Live DJ
-Opportunity to connect with Local Community Partners
-Public Safety Resources
-Special Guest Speakers & Performers
For more information and/or to participate, please contact Watrina Watson at (404)-254-8221 or watrina.watson@gmail.com.
Please find below the proposed Historic District Regulations Draft provided by the staff of the Atlanta Urban Design Commission (AUDC). This proposal was the result of an iterative process involving members of Adair Park Today and the AUDC. Members will vote on this proposal in the coming months at an Adair Park Today meeting.
Adair Park – Regulation Revisions – May 2015
More information about the Atlanta Urban Design Commission:
Commission Functions
The Commission nominates and regulates buildings and districts which are designated as Historic Buildings or Sites, Landmark Buildings or Sites, Conservation Districts, Historic Districts, or Landmark Districts.
The Commission reviews and comments on projects that involve City of Atlanta property, rights-of-way, or parks.
The Commission reviews and comments on the capital expenditures by other public agencies or authorities that are required to submit plans for review by the City of Atlanta.
The Commission reviews and comments to the Zoning Review Board and Board of Zoning Adjustment on any proposed action pending before those boards regarding any building, site or districts that has been designated under the City’s historic preservation ordinance.
The Commission provides technical assistance and public information to property owners, residents, and others interested in historic preservation, the City of Atlanta’s history, the historic resources within the City of Atlanta, or other related subjects.
Commission Operations
The Atlanta Urban Design Commission was established in 1975 by a City of Atlanta ordinance.
Since the City’s current Historic Preservation Ordinance was enacted in 1989, over 70 individual properties and 18 districts have been brought under its protection.
Any time that work on the exterior of such a designated property is proposed, a Certificate of Appropriateness must be obtained from the Commission, as well asthe normal building permit. It is the intent of the City’s Historic Preservation Ordinance that any changes which occur to a designated property be in keeping with the historic character of the building or district.
The Urban Design Commission consists of a Staff of five, and a Board of 11 members who are all residents of the City of Atlanta. The members of the Commission are volunteers and are appointed to serve three-year terms by the Mayor, City Council, and Council President. According to City ordinance, the Commission membership includes two architects, as well as a landscape architect, lawyer, land developer, real estate professional, historic preservationist, artist, historian, neighborhood representative, and urban planner. Seven members of the board constitute a quorum for conducting its business.
Public Meetings
The Commission meets on the second and fourth Wednesday of each month at 4:00 pm, in the Council Chambers at City Hall, 55 Trinity Avenue, SW. The public is welcome to attend and is given the opportunity to speak in support of or in opposition to items on the agenda.
