Downtown Decatur just got a little more historic. It always was, with its central courthouse, turn-of-the-century storefronts and smattering of Victorian houses, but the area’s recent listing on the National Register of Historic Places makes it official.
“This is an acknowledgment of the historic fabric of buildings that keeps people coming downtown,” said Regina Brewer, Decatur’s historic preservation planner. “At times, people think the National Register is very restrictive, but it’s one of our greatest tools. It’s just a list of what’s important and meaningful in terms of architecture and cultural history. It gives us a sense of who we are.”
Getting the designation capped a two-year process that began in 2009 with a survey of the city’s historic buildings. The Georgia preservation office reviewed the information and added it to the state’s list of historic places before it was submitted to the National Park Service for the national designation.
The listing stretches from the intersection of Commerce Drive and Clairmont Avenue, captures part of the downtown known as “Old Decatur” and swings along the railroad tracks on the south. It includes about 100 buildings, including Decatur High School and the county courthouse.
“We have several buildings in the district that were already listed on the Register, such as the courthouse and the Masonic Temple,” said Brewer. “The oldest building is the High House, a Victorian on Sycamore Street that is now a law office.”
The business community had long wanted some sort of official designation, said Brewer, but lacked the manpower to push the process through. Getting the registration is important for several reasons.
“First of all, it’s a great honor,” she said. “Having it in downtown was key because it’s the heart of our city. At the same time, it entitles property owners to tax breaks for their buildings.”
Getting a tax break means owners have more resources to pour into renovations, which in turn revitalizes the area. That was how the designation worked for the owners of the Cakes and Ale restaurant, which moved to a larger space on Sycamore St. that dates to 1910.
“When they went from their small location to a run-down storefront, we were able to facilitate tax credits,” said Brewer. “They ended about $665,000 in federal and state tax credits that include a tax freeze, so their assessment will stay at the pre-improved value for 8.5 years.”
The new Cakes & Ale reworked spaces that formerly housed a sub shop, a fast-food place and a cell phone store into a restaurant, bar and bakery that draws visitors from around the metro area.
“Before that, the corner had just died,” said Brewer. “But their new space has transformed the entire corner. The space next to them is now being renovated for a shoe store, and those owners are very conscientious about creating a store front saves the historic elements.”
While the National Register can open the door to new businesses, Brewer sees it as having broader impact.
“It’s also a good way to introduce people to preservation,” she said. “It lets them know why something is significant and what makes it special. And our downtown business district is special; it’s very much the heart of Decatur.”
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