We've passed 1134 Ponce de Leon so many times we don't even look. Sharon Foster Jones, author of Atlanta's Ponce de Leon Avenue: A History, says "Yes, Pontificating on Ponce was stuck in traffic a couple of weeks ago when it burned."
I think I missed its glory days entirely. I've been driving by since 1968.
Property tax records say it was built in 1925. There was a demolition permit in 2008, guess the economy squashed that. What can you do on 6,400 square feet?
In it's prime from Google Maps. Is there a happier picture?
Looks like it had been divided into 3 stores.
There was graffiti inside, plenty of city camping too.
Did you know that the billboard grew from inside the building?
Must have been a valuable billboard. When was its last fresh sign?
I'm dumbfounded.
The Kirbo Building (1971) to the left (east) is part of the Carter Center. It's got a bit of modern oddness. It always catches my eye. Was it a bank? I don't remember.
Booth Towers (1988) wraps the south and west sides.
There's loading dock - or something - out back.
The was another part of the building to the east, protected by a firewall.
At least it's interesting as it is. A buffed lot will be boring.
But I'm worried about that billboard. It's leaning east.
I hope to do all these. If you are in Atlanta, I hope to see you there and maybe at a few more events. 1. The Atlanta Preservation Center's first "Sacred Spaces" tour starts this Thursday. It runs September 22, 24, 25, 2011, Thursday, Saturday, and Sunday. It's 7 mini-events that cross the spectrum of Atlanta's religious community and history. Churches are, hands down, our best collection of buildings. They are meant to inspire our best impulses. They each mean something personal to 100s' and thousands of our neighbors, across generations. This is the best of architecture tourism.
Thursday September 22, 2011 6:00 pm Ahavath Achim Synagogue - Tour & Film
Saturday September 24, 2011 9:00 am Paces Ferry United Methodist Church - Open House
Saturday September 24, 2011 11:00 am Al Farooq Masjid - Guided Tour
Saturday September 24, 2011 3:00 pm Big Bethel African AME Church - Guided Tour
Saturday September 24, 2011 4:30 pm South-View Cemetery - Guided Tour
Sunday September 25, 2011 1:00 pm Paces Ferry United Methodist Church - Open House
Sunday September 25, 2011 1:15 pm North Avenue Presbyterian Church - Guided Tour
Sunday September 25, 2011 2:15 pm North Avenue Presbyterian Church - Guided Tour
All the cool design kids will be there, it's easy and easy going, kind'a looks like this: 3. Flux 2011, Friday, September 30, 2011 8pm-12 in Castleberry Hill I don't know how to put it: You walk Castleberry Hill in the dark from one "event" to another and it gets all magic on you. Art, dance, sounds, projections, performance, light, you won't be able to take it all in. Bring your buds; they'll thank you. You don't need to dress up but you are welcome to dress crazy.
You might see a projected lost zebra:
4. Modern Atlanta hosts premiere of MY PLAYGROUND on October 1, 2011 7:30pm at Plaza Theater I attended a press screening of this 50 minute film. It's about Parkour: "Parkour is a sport in which you have to go from one point of the city to another as efficiently and quickly as possible, overcoming any obstacles in your way: walls, fences, trees, etc. This has made Parkour THE urban sport, included in recent music videos, advertisements and feature films." You might have seen snippets of parkour in Youtube. It's odd, amazing, and a bit scary. It will make you want to do it or wish your were young enough to do it.
It could be a part of your Poncey-Highlands evening. It's the night of the October Ponce Crush too. This is not a dull place.
If you've ever driven Ponce de Leon - and who hasn't - this stands at the Ponce's highest point on one of Atlanta's great corners. It's a breathtaking, blonde brick, beaux-art beauty.
I'm a major bore about this: It's more fun living here when we learn more about the people and great places in our own backyard. In that spirit I approached Jim Wright at the church and gathered a group of architecture tourists.
"Edward Bennett Dougherty and Arthur Neal Robinson are two architects that have largely been forgotten in their native city...the two men designed one of Atlanta’s most impressive landmarks: the First Church of Christ, Scientist. Both men would design later churches that are similar to this Peachtree landmark...The Druid Hills Baptist Church (Dedicated July 1928) was designed by Dougherty and has many similarities. In 1923 Robinson designed the Second Church of Christ, Scientist in Cincinnati that also resembles the earlier Atlanta church."
Both are unforgettable. Top: Druid Hills Baptist, bottom: First Church of Christ, Scientist.
So where is all this gold, pink and blue?
Up there.
Up there.
Up there.
The main level is rusticated, it's fancy around the horseshoe balcony.
See what I mean: plain below, fancy above.
A church discussion covers a lot of ground and a lot of Atlanta history.
This was just one room in this huge church. We slipped out to the portico.
It's at the highest point on Ponce so there is a good view.
How many times have I driven by without looking closely?
I've only scratched the surface of this huge church.
Thanks to our hosts, Jim, Mimi, Graham, and all of the Druid Hills Baptist community. Thanks to fellow tourists Warren Williams, Bobby Mays, Syd Janney, Don Janney, Eileen Drennen, Terry Stevick, Emily Wert, Bill Barber, and Wright Marshal - the more eyes we have the more we can see. I hope we can do it again soon.