Assignment 8: Wright

The Preserve at Fischer Mansion is a developing 54-unit townhome community on Chamblee-Dunwoody Road just inside the perimeter. It is about 75% constructed. The consumerist message seen in this community in my opinion is that it is possible to have a piece of the "good life" without too much pretention. The main feature is a historic house designed by Phillip Shutze in the 1920s for one of the co-founders of Crawford W. Long Hospital, Dr. Luther Fischer. After years as a private residence, the home and grounds housed a Catholic girls' school in the 1960s and the Atlanta Unity Church in the 1970s. The church announced plans to demolish the home in 2004, and Stafford Properties bought the land in 2005. The home was placed on the National Register in 2006, and work began on the new townhomes later that year. The main home, seen in the bottom picture, sits at an angle to the road in a curve. Now that vegetation is in bloom, it is obscured from the road. The most visible signage is the top picture which sits alongside Chamblee Dunwoody Road. Two rows of townhomes face the street and sit within 25 feet of the road. The entrance to the community is not gated, and it is approached between the two buildings facing the street. The only permanent sign for the community is seen in the second picture above. It is not ostentatious, and it fits the history of the original home quite well.

The picture above is taken from the clubhouse which sits adjacent to the main house. The view is back toward the entrance to the community. The house directly behind the white truck is actually across Chamblee Dunwoody Road. There are essentially three styles of homes. The first is seen along the street frontage. It has decorative brickwork, stucco features, and large columns. It likely appeals to a higher caliber clientele and could be considered an "urban sophistication." The second style is seen in the above photograph. It is made to resemble more of an updated traditional feel. The third style is an eclectic mix. It is embodied in the main house which has been divided into three unique townhomes.

I spoke with the property manager. He said the pricing has come down significantly in the last year when the most recent phase of construction has begun. The new, lower pricing is reflected on the sign in the top photo. According to him, the developer is not targeting one particular demographic group. In fact, the last three units to go under contract were sold to a retired couple, a young couple around age 30, and a single male around age 40.

With the several-acre nature preserve, swimming pool, and manicured grounds, the community has a broad appeal to various taste publics. The pricing is currently such that people in the lower middle class could be attracted to the area, but it is probably most sought after by the upper middle class culture. Interestingly, because of the unique history of the property and design by a renowned early 20th-century architect, it could carry some appeal to the upper class culture as well, particularly to those who appreciate the artistic endeavors in preserving the original home and developing it into unique townhomes, hence giving owners a piece of the good life as noted at the beginning of this post.