Northwoods Historic District

Last updated

Northwoods Historic District
Metro atlanta.jpg
Red pog.svg
USA Georgia location map.svg
Red pog.svg
Usa edcp location map.svg
Red pog.svg
Location DeKalb County, Georgia
Coordinates 33°53′30″N84°16′35″W / 33.89167°N 84.27639°W / 33.89167; -84.27639
NRHP reference No. 14000322
Added to NRHPJune 2, 2014

The Northwoods Historic District in DeKalb County, Georgia consists of five adjoining residential neighborhoods, including Northwoods, Fleetwood Hills, Gordon Hills, Gordon Heights and Sequoyah Woods. [1] The Northwoods, Gordon Hills and Gordon Heights neighborhoods are all located within the city limits of Doraville, Georgia, and Sequoyah Woods and Fleetwood Hills are located in unincorporated DeKalb County. [2] The district was developed in the 1950s and 60's and consists of approximately 530 acres with a total of 922 historic/contributing resources. [1] : 47 

Contents

On June 2, 2014 the Northwoods Historic District was added to the National Register of Historic Places. [3] The district is significant because it is an intact example of midcentury and contemporary architecture in Georgia. [1] : 46  The district was developed to provide affordable homes that met VA and FHA requirements and other amenities for middle-class workers in nearby industries, including the General Motors automobile factory Doraville Assembly, Delta, Lockheed and others. [4]

As a planned use development, the district serves as an early example of a mixed-use development, with schools, churches, offices and homes all located within the district. [1] : 9  The Northwoods Area Neighborhood Association sponsored the nomination for recognition, and the Heritage Preservation Program at Georgia State University prepared the nomination materials and conducted the supporting research, interviews and community meetings as well as gathered and preserved a number of historic documents and pictures. [1] : 4  The Northwoods Area Neighborhood Association has served the district for over 50 years of its history and continues to do so today by providing a sense of community for Northwoods and the surrounding areas. [5]

On October 10, 2019, the US Board of Geographic names approved names for two creeks based on an application from the Northwoods Area Neighborhood Association and with the support of the City of Doraville. The first is Northwoods Creek, which is named for the Northwoods Historic District. [6] The second is Stewart Creek, which is named for Stewart Lake, which was formed in an old rock quarry dug during the Great Depression by workers with the Works Progress Administration. [7] While the lake is no longer there, it seems appropriate that the creek bear its name.

Architecture

After initially developing some plain style ranches in the south-western portion of the district, the primary developer of Northwoods, Walter Talley, hired Georgia Tech architects Ernest Mastin and John Summer to design a variety of contemporary homes and floor plans. [1] : 29  When switching from the plain style ranch house to the more contemporary designs, Tally was initially met with skepticism from lenders. The Providence Institute for Savings made one of the initial loans to Tally, but required that Tally build five conventional houses along with five of the more original contemporary houses designed by Mastin and Summer to limit the lender's perceived risk. [1] : 26  With strong demand for the contemporary designs, lenders soon gave Tally the flexibility he needed to develop Northwoods using a variety of contemporary designs. [1] : 27  This focus on both design and cost are clearly reflected in an early advertisement promoting "Houses of Smart Design and Superior Constructions" in Northwoods for prices between $13,350 and $15,300 (a median price of $156,000 in 2022 dollars). [1] : 134 

Tally, Mastin and Summer used contemporary and mid-century modern design features to ensure both the affordable pricing and the high quality that appealed to DeKalb County's burgeoning middle class. Mastin and Summer drew significant inspiration from contemporary designs in California, and they found ways to incorporate many contemporary design features into the district's modest homes. [1] : 48  One notable and unique architectural feature in the district is the use of brick from the foundation up to the window sills of many homes with other materials from the window sills to the roofline. This feature was designed to balance buyers' desire for brick with the goal of affordability. [8]

With designs inspired by the successful Northwoods neighborhood, the other neighborhoods in the district (Gordon Hills, Gordon Heights, Sequoyah Woods and Fleetwood Hills) are generally consistent in design and share many of the same architectural features as the Northwoods neighborhood. [1] : 36 

McClave Dr. Historic Sign Historic District Sign.jpg
McClave Dr. Historic Sign

Notable buildings

The Herb Butler Union Hall located at 5407 Buford Highway served as the home to the United Autoworkers, Local 10 until the closure of General Motors' Doraville Assembly in 2008. Designed by Phillip Windsor, the Herb Butler Union Hall is significant both architecturally and as a tangible reminder of the district's middle-class roots. [1] : 38  The hall is named after James Herbert "Herb" Butler (November 4, 1927 – February 21, 2008), one of Local 10's most influential members who served the union for over 50 years. [9]

Renowned architect John C. Portman Jr. together with his associates designed both Sequoyah Middle School (formerly Sequoyah High School) and Cary Reynolds Elementary (formerly Sequoyah Elementary and Northwoods Area Elementary before that). These two schools are located in the Sequoyah Woods neighborhood in the district. The modern design of these two schools showcases some of Portman's early work. [10] Portman later achieved notoriety for his design of Peachtree Center in Atlanta, the Renaissance Building in Detroit, Bonaventure Hotel in Los Angeles and Western Warsaw Hotel in Poland. There is a plaque outside each school recognizing Portman and Associates for their modern designs.

Interior Courtyard at Cary Reynolds Elementary Picture of Courtyard at Cary Reynolds Elementary.png
Interior Courtyard at Cary Reynolds Elementary

Cary Reynolds Elementary was recently recognized by the Georgia Trust for Historic Preservation as one of its 2019 Places in Peril. [11] Opened in 1961, the school features several of Portman’s signature stylistic motifs, including the central green space and light wells above the windows. As recognized by the Georgia Trust for Historic Preservation, this building is awaiting long-promised investment and renovations by the DeKalb County School District. Neighborhood advocates are concerned that a failure to invest in needed maintenance will negatively impact students and faculty and jeopardize the long-term impact on the preservation of this architectural treasure.

Neighborhoods

Map of Northwoods Historic District Map of Northwoods Historic District in DeKalb County, Georgia.pdf
Map of Northwoods Historic District
An entrance from Buford Highway Entrance to Northwoods on Buford Highway.jpg
An entrance from Buford Highway

Northwoods is the largest of the five neighborhoods included in the district, and it contains the district's two parks, Brook Park and Autumn Park. Walter Tally's vision for Northwoods was that it would be a "city within a city" that included within it a variety of uses. [1] : 26  Unlike many planned neighborhoods today, Northwoods includes seven access points from city streets and county roads. [1] : 9  Northwoods was developed in nine different units from 1950 to 1958, with Mastin and Summer responsible for the design of most but not all of the houses. Tally and Summer designed houses for themselves on McClave Dr. [1] : 33  Most streets in Northwoods are named after the family members of the developers. [1] : 11 

Gordon Hills, Gordon Heights and Sequoyah Woods have their origins in land owned by a farmer named Thomas Turner Stewart. With the passing of Thomas Stewart, John Gordon Stewart and Julia Stewart Strong inherited 160 acres and Marty Teru Creel inherited the remaining 60 acres. [1] : 33–34 

John Gordon Stewart, who served as Mayor of Doraville from the 1920s to the 1950s, began developing Gordon Hills in 1948 with the majority of development occurring in the 1950s. [1] : 35  The plans for developing the neighboring Gordon Heights were approved in 1955.

Sequoyah Woods is the newest of the five neighborhoods in the district, with development by James Embry occurring primarily between 1962 and 1964. The streets in Sequoyah Woods often have Native American–style names. [1] : 37 

Fleetwood Hills, with its main entrance along Chamblee Tucker Road, was developed in four phases from 1955 to 1957. This neighborhood was developed by James Embry with Poe & King Engineers handling the layout of the roads and lots. [1] : 36–37  Fleetwood Hills is the only neighborhood in the district other than Northwoods that has welcome signs identifying the name of the community.

Current character

The district remains as one of the more affordable communities in Northern DeKalb County, and it is now home to a diverse mix of cultures, including Hispanics, Koreans, Vietnamese, Chinese and many others. [12] Buford Highway, which borders the northwestern side of the district, reflects this diversity in that it has become well known in Atlanta for its wide variety of authentic ethnic cuisines. [13] The district was recognized by the website Curbed Atlanta in an article titled "Doraville’s Northwoods remains a midcentury modern treasure trove." [14]

Related Research Articles

John Calvin Portman Jr. was an American neofuturistic architect and real estate developer widely known for popularizing hotels and office buildings with multi-storied interior atria. Portman also had a particularly large impact on the cityscape of his hometown of Atlanta, with the Peachtree Center complex serving as downtown's business and tourism anchor from the 1970s onward. The Peachtree Center area includes Portman-designed Hyatt, Westin, and Marriott hotels. Portman's plans typically deal with primitives in the forms of symmetrical squares and circles.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">DeKalb County, Georgia</span> County in Georgia, United states

DeKalb County is located in the north central portion of the U.S. state of Georgia. As of the 2020 census, the population was 764,382, making it Georgia's fourth-most populous county. Its county seat is Decatur.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chamblee, Georgia</span> City in Georgia, United States

Chamblee is a city in northern DeKalb County, Georgia, United States, northeast of Atlanta. The population was 30,164 as of the 2020 census.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Decatur, Georgia</span> City in Georgia, United States

Decatur is a city in, and the county seat of, DeKalb County, Georgia, United States, part of the Atlanta metropolitan area. With a population of 24,928 in the 2020 census, the municipality is sometimes assumed to be larger since multiple ZIP Codes in unincorporated DeKalb County bear Decatur as the address. The city is served by three MARTA rail stations. The city is located approximately five miles northeast of Downtown Atlanta and shares its western border with both the city of Atlanta and unincorporated DeKalb County. The Druid Hills neighborhood is to the northwest of Decatur.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Doraville, Georgia</span> City in Georgia, United States

Doraville is a city in DeKalb County, Georgia, United States northeast of Atlanta. As of the 2020 census, the city had a population of 10,623.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Druid Hills, Georgia</span> Neighborhood of Atlanta, Georgia, United States

Druid Hills is a community which includes both a census-designated place (CDP) in unincorporated DeKalb County, Georgia, United States, as well as a neighborhood of the city of Atlanta. The CDP's population was 14,568 at the 2010 census. The CDP formerly contained the main campus of Emory University and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) however they were annexed by Atlanta in 2018. The Atlanta-city section of Druid Hills is one of Atlanta's most affluent neighborhoods with a mean household income in excess of $238,500.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">North Decatur, Georgia</span> Place in Georgia, United States

North Decatur is an unincorporated community and census-designated place (CDP) in DeKalb County, Georgia, United States. The population was 16,698 at the 2010 census.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">North Druid Hills, Georgia</span> Place in Georgia, United States

North Druid Hills, also known as Briarcliff or Toco Hills, is an unincorporated community and census-designated place in DeKalb County, Georgia, United States. The population was 18,947 at the 2010 census. The commercial center of the area is the Toco Hill Shopping Center, located near the intersection of North Druid Hills Road and LaVista Road.

The city of Atlanta, Georgia is made up of 243 neighborhoods officially defined by the city. These neighborhoods are a mix of traditional neighborhoods, subdivisions, or groups of subdivisions. The neighborhoods are grouped by the city planning department into 25 neighborhood planning units (NPUs). These NPUs are "citizen advisory councils that make recommendations to the Mayor and City Council on zoning, land use, and other planning issues". There are a variety of other widely recognized named areas within the city. Some are officially designated, while others are more informal.

Kirkwood is a national historic designated neighborhood on the east side of Atlanta, Georgia, United States. It is a historic streetcar suburb situated entirely in DeKalb County, bordered by the neighborhoods of Lake Claire, East Lake, Edgewood, and Oakhurst. Kirkwood is bound on the north by DeKalb Avenue, on the south by Memorial Drive and Interstate 20, on the west by Montgomery Street, and on the east by 1st Ave. A large part of the neighborhood is listed on the National Register of Historic Places as Kirkwood Historic District.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Brookhaven, Georgia</span> City in Georgia, United States

Brookhaven is a city in the northeastern suburbs of Atlanta that is located in western DeKalb County, Georgia, United States, directly northeast of Atlanta. On July 31, 2012, Brookhaven was approved in a referendum to become DeKalb County's 11th city. Incorporation officially took place on December 17, 2012, on which date municipal operations commenced. With a population of around 55,366 as of 2021, it is the largest city in DeKalb County. The new city stretches over 12 square miles (31 km2).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Oakhurst, Decatur, Georgia</span>

Oakhurst is a historic neighborhood in the southwest corner of Decatur, Georgia, a suburb of Atlanta, Georgia. It is located south of downtown Decatur and approximately six miles east of downtown Atlanta. Oakhurst primarily consists of residences built in early 20th century and neighborhood businesses. It is roughly bounded by the City of Atlanta's Kirkwood neighborhood on the west ; the Atlanta city limits on the south; West College Ave. on the north; and South McDonough St. on the east. There is also a neighborhood near the College Heights Early Learning Center referred to as "College Heights", but it is part of Historic Oakhurst.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Georgia Trust for Historic Preservation</span>

The Georgia Trust for Historic Preservation is the United States' largest statewide, nonprofit preservation organization with more than 8,000 members. Founded in 1973 by Mary Gregory Jewett and others, the Trust is committed to preserving and enhancing Georgia's communities and their diverse historic resources for the education and enjoyment of all.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Charles M. Goodman</span> American architect (1906–1992)

Charles M. Goodman was an American architect who made a name for his modern designs in suburban Washington, D.C., after World War II. While his work has a regional feel, he ignored the colonial revival look so popular in Virginia. Goodman was quoted in the 1968 survey book Architecture in Virginia as saying that he aimed to "get away from straight historical reproduction."

The DeKalb County School District (DCSD) is a school district headquartered at 1701 Mountain Industrial Boulevard in unincorporated DeKalb County, Georgia, United States, near Stone Mountain and in the Atlanta metropolitan area. DCSD operates public schools in areas of DeKalb County that are not within the city limits of Atlanta and Decatur. It will serve a portion of Atlanta annexed by that city in 2018 until 2024, when that portion will be re-assigned to Atlanta Public Schools (APS).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Clairemont – Great Lakes (Decatur)</span>

Clairemont - Great Lakes is a historic neighborhood in the north central section of the Atlanta, Georgia suburb of Decatur. It primarily consists of residences and churches. However, there are businesses on West Ponce de Leon Avenue, in the southernmost section of the neighborhood. Its rough boundaries are Coventry Road, Ponce de Leon Avenue and Commerce Drive on the south; Church Street on the east; Scott Boulevard on the north; and Willow on the northeast. The section of Superior Avenue north of Scott Boulevard is also considered part of this neighborhood. Ridgeland Park, located northeast of the Clairemont - Great Lakes neighborhood, is not presently considered part of the neighborhood. It was developed later (1946–1950) and is in unincorporated DeKalb County. However, in 2008 the city of Decatur began evaluating annexation of this neighborhood, which is contiguous to the rest of the development.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Glennwood Estates (Decatur)</span>

Glennwood Estates is a historic neighborhood located in the northeast section of Decatur, Georgia. It is a residential neighborhood chiefly of single-family homes including a nature preserve and an adjoining park. At least a third of the homes were built in the 1920s and were relatively large for the time. Glenn Creek and the South Fork of Peachtree Creek Tributary run through the neighborhood.

Chelsea Heights and Westchester Hills are adjacent neighborhoods, separated by a municipal park, in the northwest corner of the Atlanta, Georgia suburb of Decatur. Chelsea Heights straddles the east and west sides of the CSX railroad tracks, falling within the City of Decatur and the unincorporated DeKalb County, respectively. The latter part, though located east of what historically was Druid Hills, is part of the Druid Hills CDP and participates in the Druid Hills Civic Association: see Chelsea Heights.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Murphey Candler Park</span> Park in Brookhaven, Georgia, United States

Murphey Candler Park is a 135-acre multi-use park located in Brookhaven, Georgia, United States. The park is owned and operated by the City of Brookhaven. Park amenities include multi-use fields, tennis courts, a swimming pool, a playground, picnic areas, a lake, and trails. Youth sports are offered through baseball, softball, and football programs that operate through the park. The lake at Murphey Candler Park offers fishing, and it is home to largemouth bass, bluegill, redear sunfish, and channel catfish. The lake is also home to Canada Geese, Mallards, other ducks and beavers.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lenox Park, Brookhaven, Georgia</span>

Lenox Park is a neighborhood of homes and office buildings located primarily within the city of Brookhaven, Georgia, just east of the northern border of the city of Atlanta.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 "Northwoods Historic District" (PDF). Historic District Information Form. National Park Service. May 2010.
  2. ↑ "Doraville City Limits" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on March 4, 2016. Retrieved October 24, 2015.
  3. ↑ "Northwoods Historic District added to National Register of Historic Places" (Press release). Georgia Department of Natural Resources, Historic Preservation Division. Archived from the original on July 2, 2014. Retrieved October 24, 2015.{{cite press release}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  4. ↑ Georgia State University, Single Family Residential Development in DeKalb County, Georgia, 1945-1970. Atlanta, GA 2010 ("Single Family Development"), p. 79.
  5. ↑ https://northwoodsarea.org/
  6. ↑ "GNIS Detail - Northwoods Creek". geonames.usgs.gov. Retrieved January 2, 2020.
  7. ↑ "GNIS Detail - Stewart Creek". geonames.usgs.gov. Retrieved January 3, 2020.
  8. ↑ Single Family Development p. 72.
  9. ↑ "Region News". www.uawregion8.net. Retrieved September 26, 2015.
  10. ↑ Kelley, Bob. Images of America: Doraville, Arcadia Publishing, 2012. Print. Pages 98-99.
  11. ↑ "Cary Reynolds Elementary School". The Georgia Trust. November 13, 2019. Retrieved January 3, 2020.
  12. ↑ "City of Doraville". City-Data. Retrieved October 24, 2015.
  13. ↑ "Atlanta's Buford Highway". Southern Foodways Alliance. June 8, 2010. Retrieved October 24, 2015.
  14. ↑ KaronCurbed (May 17, 2019). "Doraville's Northwoods remains a midcentury modern treasure trove. Just ask the neighbors". Curbed Atlanta. Retrieved February 6, 2021.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.