Local Historic Property Designation Report
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Unified Government of Athens-Clarke County, Georgia Planning Department Historic Preservation Commission Draft Report LOCAL HISTORIC PROPERTY DESIGNATION REPORT This form is for use as part of the process of designating individual properties and districts under the Athens-Clarke County Historic Preservation Ordinance. Generally, instructions found in the publication "Guidelines for Completing National Register Forms" (National Register Bulletin 16) should be followed when completing this form. Complete each item by marking "x" in the appropriate box or by entering the requested information. If an item does not apply to the property being documented, enter "N/A" for "not applicable." For functions, styles, materials, and areas of significance, enter only the categories and subcategories listed in the instructions. For additional space use continuation sheets. Type all entries. 1. Name of Property historic name Downtown Athens Local Historic District other names/site number 2. Location street & number The Downtown Athens Local Historic District is an area of approximately nine eight square blocks in the heart of downtown Athens, Georgia. The area is roughly bounded by Dougherty Street on the north; by the middle of the blocks between North Jackson Street and Thomas Street on the east; by East Broad Street on the south (with the exception of the southeastern corner of the District which extends south of East Broad and east of Thomas); and by North Lumpkin Street on the west. For precise boundaries, SEE ATTACHED HISTORIC DISTRICT MAP. city, town Athens ( ) vicinity of county Clarke code GA 059 state Georgia code GA zip code 30601 ( ) not for publication 3. Classification Ownership of Property: Category of Property: (X) private ( ) building(s) (X) public-local (X) district (X) public-state ( ) site (X) public-federal ( ) structure ( ) object Number of Resources within Property: Noncontributing Contributing buildings 22 92 sites 0 0 structures 0 0 objects 0 3 total 22 95 Contributing resources previously designated as Local Landmarks: Name(s) of previous designation(s): Athens City Hall, Double-Barrel Cannon, Georgian Hotel, Clarke County Courthouse, Franklin House, and F.M. Coker Cotton Warehouse Name of related multiple property listing: N/A Franklin House (1845) – 480 East Broad Street A three-story brick building with side-gable roof, the Franklin House was originally constructed as a hotel with several businesses on the first level and exhibits Federal and Greek Revival styling. The ground level elevation, which faces East Broad Street, features a cast-iron front that was placed on the building in the 1880s, and there are five entrances as well as large display windows on this elevation’s first level. A Greek Revival-styled doorway with transom and sidelights distinguishes the second level. It is believed that a balcony or possibly exterior stairs provided access to this door. A nearly identical second-level door is located on the Thomas Street façade, and third floor windows directly above the two doors as well as the attic window facing Thomas Street exhibit similar styling but lack transoms. A side-gabled roof covers the entire front portion of the building and features a stepped parapet on the Thomas Street elevation. Two rear additions were made to the building, both prior to 1860. One of these, located at the building’s southeast corner, was removed in the mid 20th century. F.M. Coker Cotton Warehouse (c.1890) – 112 South Foundry Street At the turn of the century, the area around Foundry Street transitioned from a neighborhood with commercial aspects to a full-blown industrial sector. Perhaps the most elaborate warehouse building remaining in downtown Athens is the Romanesque Revival, F.M. Coker Cotton Warehouse. The building is three stories in height but is built into a hillside, and thus only two levels are above ground at the building’s front (Foundry Street elevation). The ground level of the Foundry Street façade features round-arched window and door openings while the upper level has segmental arched windows. Full-height pilasters and a pedimented brick parapet distinguish the front elevation. The rear of the building forms a loading area directly adjacent to the railroad. The F.M. Coker Cotton Warehouse is representative of Athens’ development during the late nineteenth and early twentieth century in the areas of commerce, agriculture, and trade. Athens City Hall (1903) – 301 College Avenue Occupying tree-shaded and landscaped grounds, the yellow brick City Hall was designed by architect L. F. Goodrich. It rises two stories above a daylight basement and reflects the Classical and Renaissance Revival influences of the day. The basement level is faced with granite blocks and granite steps that lead up to one-story entrance porticoes facing College Avenue and Washington and Hancock streets. The primary (College Avenue) entrance features double doors with fanlight and sidelights. Corners are elaborated with quoins and horizontal recessed brick courses on the first story give the building a rusticated look. The cornice and central pedimented gables are decorated with brackets. Above the building rises a central cupola with clocks facing north, south, east and west. The cupola is capped by a green copper-clad dome with an eagle weathervane crowning the lantern. Double-Barrel Cannon – 301 College Avenue Designed by John Gilleland, the double-barrel cannon was cast at the Athens Foundry and Machine Works in 1862 intended for use by Confederate forces. The double-barrel cannon did not function as designed and was never used in battle. It did, however, serve as a warning signal during the Civil War of encroaching Union troops. Placed next to the Confederate Monument on College Avenue in 1891, the Cannon was moved to the City Hall grounds when the Confederate Monument was moved to West Broad Street. 2 Georgian Hotel (1909) – 247 East Washington Street Designed by Atlanta architect Ten Eyck Brown, the Neoclassical Revival five-story Georgian Hotel was built at a cost of $200,000 and established a new standard for public accommodations in Athens. The Georgian Hotel’s significance to Athens’ social history is evidenced by the many important social gatherings, which took place at the hotel, as well as, by the frequency of important guests. Constructed of brick, the building is divided into three horizontal sections by stone belt courses between the first and second and the fourth and fifth floors. Large round-arched windows with stained-glass panels in upper portions distinguish the first floor. Second and third floor windows are rectangular with segmental arches of alternating brick and stone while fourth floor windows are round- arched, each with a single stone keystone. Fifth floor windows are rectangular, and the building is topped by a heavy cornice and stone balustrade. Clarke County Courthouse (1913) – 325 East Washington Street Designed by Ten Eyck Brown in the Neoclassical style, the four-story Clarke County Courthouse is constructed of yellow brick. The front elevation is dominated by six three-story Ionic columns that support a recessed entrance and are covered with a tile that matches the brick. The building’s center section is only three stories in height with a balustrade above while flanking portions stand four stories tall. A heavy entablature and cornice separate the third and fourth floors. A parking deck was constructed directly east of the courthouse in the 1980s and a large courthouse annex was added to the rear of the original structure in the early 1990s; neither is within the local district boundaries. The Clarke County Courthouse is a significant part of Athens’ history and politics, which is evidenced by its continuing role as the center of governmental functions since 1913. 3 4. Local Certification As the designated authority under the Athens-Clarke County Historic Preservation Ordinance of 1987, I hereby certify that this designation report meets the documentation standards for designating properties under the Athens-Clarke County Historic Preservation Ordinance and meets the procedural and professional requirements set forth for such designations. In my opinion, the property meets the criteria for local designations. Signature of certifying official Date Planning Director Athens-Clarke County Planning Department In my opinion, the property ( ) meets ( ) does not meet the criteria for local designations. Signature of commenting planning department staff member Date Historic Preservation Planner Athens-Clarke County Planning Department In my opinion, the property ( ) meets ( ) does not meet the criteria for local designations Signature of Historic Preservation Commission Chair Date In my opinion, the property ( ) meets ( ) does not meet the criteria for local designations Signature of Chief Executive Officer Date Unified Government of Athens-Clarke County 4 5. Function or Use Historic Functions: COMMERCE/TRADE/department store; specialty store; restaurant; professional office; tavern GOVERNMENT/city hall; courthouse; post office; government office; police station RECREATION AND CULTURE/theater; music facility; monument/marker INDUSTRY/manufacturing facility LANDSCAPE/parking lot; plaza Current Functions: COMMERCE/TRADE/specialty store; restaurant; professional office; tavern GOVERNMENT/city hall; courthouse; post office; government office; police station RECREATION AND CULTURE/theater; music facility; monument/marker VACANT/NOT IN USE LANDSCAPE/parking lot; plaza 6. Description Architectural Classification: