Assignment 1: Adam

Photo 1: Looking south at Ralph McGill and Peachtree Center towards Portman’s SunTrust Plaza (on right), these two buildings comment on the evolution of Atlanta. Land north of the CBD was valuable enough to construct this 8 story residential building (on the left) in the early 20^th century (a guess) which likely displaced smaller single family homes. The Sun Trust Plaza likely displaced a block full of buildings similar to the one on the left when it was constructed. The projecting bay windows would have allowed for more light on the interior; and they would open because there was no central air. It is safe to say the Sun Trust Plaza does not contain a functional window. Their contrast in style, and sheer mass, speak to the growth of Atlanta and the wealth and priority of her citizens.

Photo 2: Looking west from Wm Holmes Borders Dr SE through the “transition zone”. The highly concentrated skyscrapers also concentrated people, business, and money slowly sucking the life out of surrounding neighborhoods (with the aid of suburbanization, of course). There are a string of vacant lots in this area of the “frame” where concrete slabs likely mark the remains of apartment residences (and possibly low income housing tracks – because they all look so uniform). To the left, in the foreground out of the photo, Wheat Street Garden is being developed. New mid-rise apartment complexes are going up nearby on Decatur Street. This area was cut off physically and psychologically from the CBD, the city, when the Connector dug its moat through.

Photo 3: Though difficult to see in this picture, this condo building literally straddles a three bay, single-story brick commercial building at the northwest corner of North Avenue and Peachtree Street. It is a unique occurrence, I think; one which attempted to retain the traditional street façade while still building a rather common condominium tower. Just south of the Fox Theatre and the Georgian Terrace Hotel, these small buildings may predate (or built around the same period: 1900–30) the construction of either of the nearby public buildings. The condo “addition” was in response to rising land values in Midtown.