An apartment building in Buckhead’s Garden Hills neighborhood could soon be demolished despite attempts by area residents to preserve it for affordable housing and its historic character.
Atlanta developer Hedgewood Homes has filed a demolition permit application with the city to raze the six-unit apartment building at 71 Sheridan Drive. Hedgewood Homes, owner of the property, is also seeking the city’s okay to build two single-family homes on the site.
The apartment building at 71 Sheridan Drive is the final piece of land Hedgewood Homes wanted to complete its development called “Sheridan.”
The developer has already received the city’s approval to demolish three low-rise multi-family residences at 71, 81 and 88 Sheridan Drive to build a dozen townhomes and single-family homes that could cost more than $1 million. Tenants at the apartment buildings to be demolished are currently paying rents between $1,500 to $2,000 a month.
The Atlanta City Council last year denied Hedgewood Homes’ request to rezone the 71 Sheridan Drive property so it could build three upscale townhomes. The city council’s vote followed backlash from the some in the community concerned about the decline of affordable housing in affluent Buckhead as well as the ongoing loss of Garden Hills’ historic character.
After the denial, Hedgewood Homes revised its plans for 71 Sheridan Drive to demolish the apartment building to construct two single-family homes to fit with existing zoning regulations.
The developer also agreed to a community benefits agreement with the Garden Hills Civic Association and Atlanta Preservation Center, which has easements on the Sheridan Drive properties, that includes preserving a public green space in front of the new residences.
“We tried to show the historic nature of that portion of Garden Hills and the communities that live there, and we had hoped this would not happen, but [Hedgewood Homes] has the right, unfortunately, to demolish the building,” said Rebecca King. King is chair of Neighborhood Planning Unit B, which includes much of Buckhead, including Garden Hills, but was speaking as an individual and not the NPU.
“Sheridan is such a sweet street with such character. It’s got a nice mixture in the middle-income housing income stock there, too,” she said. “I think it’s a missed opportunity. The thing that we need now is figuring out how to meet both sides — development and historic preservation.”
The apartment buildings to be demolished were built in 1940 as part of the Garden Hills planned residential development. They are contributing structures that aided in the Garden Hills Historic District being listed in the National Register of Historic Places in 1987.
Being listed on the National Register of Historic Places does not prevent a structure from being demolished, however.
“Historic preservation is accepted as a key component for a thriving livable community that can support varied and rich experiences. The removal of contributing and historic structures is frustrating,” said David Y. Mitchell, executive director of the Atlanta Preservation Center.
A representative from Hedgewood Homes could not be reached for comment.