There comes a time when cities are confronted with choices that make clear who they are and what they care about. Atlanta faces such a choice in the proposed destruction of the historic Atlanta Daily World building.
The building is an important landmark along Sweet Auburn Avenue, one of Atlanta’s most-storied streets and a leading destination for visitors.
The building is in poor condition and its demolition, on the heels of the loss of a block of historic fabric between Piedmont Avenue and Jesse Hill Jr. Drive, may trigger the loss of Sweet Auburn’s landmark district status.
For decades, Atlanta has missed opportunities to champion the historic uniqueness of Auburn Avenue and fully capitalize on the worldwide prominence of the Martin Luther King Jr. Historic District. Efforts to grow Atlanta’s appeal as a center for human and civil rights depend heavily on preservation of physical remnants.
Birmingham and other southern cities not nearly as progressive as Atlanta during the Civil Rights struggle have seized upon the economic value of heritage tourism. What many cities have managed to quantify is that historic preservation also means economic development and jobs. If Auburn Avenue is worth being regarded as a historic district, its value extends beyond individual property owners. Its preservation becomes a matter of public interest.
The plight of Auburn Avenue and the Atlanta Daily World building symbolize the value we put on our collective heritage.
Who could imagine Washington, D.C., passively accepting the destruction of Ford’s Theater or Charlottesville, Va., allowing Monticello to be transformed into a college dorm?
These are real buildings, not facades or shells akin to stage sets or a Hollywood back lot. They are revered as significant places, embodiments of events preserved in the physical existence of buildings where they occurred.
The proposed destruction of the Atlanta Daily World building, even partially, is a reminder that the more historic fabric we lose on Auburn Avenue, the more Atlanta loses its unique sense of place.
That Auburn Avenue has arrived at such a discouraging and embarrassing condition is not for lack of effort on the part of many far-sighted individuals and organizations. Their efforts to preserve the corridor have been stymied by a lack of public support. Auburn Avenue is a designated redevelopment area that has not benefited from redevelopment resources that should be available to it.
Three things are needed for Atlanta to realize the potential value of the street: leadership, political will and resources. The city has never managed to muster all three at once. Preservation of the Atlanta Daily World building could be a turning point in this sad legacy.
Mtamanika Youngblood, executive with the Historic Development District Corp.
About the Author
