SECTION 1 GENERAL INFORMATION 1. Historic Name of District (see Section 3.B.1): Peachtree Center Historic District 2. Location of District: List principal streets, highways, and geographic features within and around the district (indicate whether highways are federal, state, or county routes): The north / south corridor of the district is situated along Peachtree Street from its intersection with Baker Street to the north to its intersection with Andrew Young International Boulevard to the south, and the east / west corridor of the district is situated along John Portman Boulevard (Formerly Harris Street) starting at its intersection with Courtland Street to the east, to its intersection with Williams Street to the west. City or vicinity of: Atlanta County: Fulton Zip Code of the district: 30303 Approximate distance and direction from county seat: One mile 3. Acreage of district to be nominated (approximately): 24 acres 4. a. Total Number of Historic/Contributing Resources in district (from Section 2.A. p. 6): Fifteen (15) buildings; eleven (11) structures; zero (0) sites; six (6) objects; b. Total Number of Noncontributing Resources in district (from Section 2.A. p. 6): There are two (2) noncontributing buildings, fifteen (15) noncontributing structures (sky bridges); zero (0) noncontributing sites, and zero (0) noncontributing objects within the district. 5. Are a majority of buildings in the district less than 50 years old? If yes, see instructions on page 29 and explain on page 14: Yes, thirteen (13) of the fifteen (15) buildings are less than 50 years old. 6. Property Ownership: See Attachment 1: Property Owners Does a federal agency (ex. U.S. Postal Service, General Services Administration) own property within the district? If yes, provide the name of the agency/agencies and the name and address of the federally owned building(s): No. NOTE: A letter of support for the district nomination from an agency or organization that represents property owners in the district must be included with the HDIF. Acceptable agencies/organizations are: city or 1 SECTION 1 GENERAL INFORMATION county governments, neighborhood associations, historical societies, or preservation organizations. NOTE: In districts of 50 property owners or less, a list of the property owners of record must be submitted. The list should include the name, address of the property within the district, and mailing address for each property owner. This information can be obtained at the county tax assessor’s office. Do the property owners within the district support nomination of the district to the National Register? Explain: Yes, the property owners of the district support the nomination of the Peachtree Center Historic District. The original developer, and architect (John Portman, Jr. / Portman USA), and properties within and adjacent to the district have been informed of this effort and have offered support. These include: Banyan Street Properties [North (Atlanta Gas Light) Tower, South Tower, Harris Tower, International Tower, Marquis One Tower, Marquis Two Tower, International Parking Deck, and the Mall at Peachtree Center.] Portman Holdings [230 Peachtree Building, Atlanta Merchandise Mart, (America’s Mart Building 1) Atlanta Apparel Mart (America’s Mart Building 3), Atlanta Gift Mart (America’s Mart Building 2); The independently owned hotels; Hyatt Regency Atlanta, Atlanta Marriott Marquis, and the Westin Peachtree Plaza, along with the Development Authority of Fulton County; Central Atlanta Progress, a consortium of local business and property owners in the area of the district, is one of the project sponsors. Have any of the following been informed about the nomination of this district to the National Register? What has been their involvement, if any, in the nomination process? Be as specific as possible. Regional Development Center: The Atlanta Regional Commission is fully aware of this effort and has been supportive and has freely offered assistance. County government: Fulton County has been notified of the application. City government: The City of Atlanta has been very supportive of this effort and has sponsored two successful historic preservation fund applications to help lay the groundwork for this project. Local historical society or preservation organization: The Atlanta Preservation Center and the Georgia Trust for Historic Preservation have been supportive of the effort and the previous grant applications. 2 SECTION 1 GENERAL INFORMATION Neighborhood, homeowners', Business or civic association: Central Atlanta Progress, a private nonprofit community development organization devoted to preserving and strengthening the economic vitality of urban Atlanta, have been the main organizer of preservation efforts in the city's Downtown. This includes supporting survey and historic context work of the area. Is the nomination of the district part of a larger formal or informal preservation program in the area? Explain: This nomination is part of an informal preservation program partnership between the City of Atlanta and Central Atlanta Progress, along with interested and concerned citizens. This initiative to promote the preservation of downtown Atlanta’s modern architecture. Sponsor of Nomination (the district sponsor must represent property owners in the district). Name(s) of local sponsor: Organization or agency (if applicable): Central Atlanta Progress Mailing Address: 84 Walton Street, Suite 500 City, State, Zip Code: Atlanta, Georgia 30303 Telephone: 404-509-0104 E-mail: [email protected] 8. Form prepared by Name: Dean Baker Organization or Company: Big RIG: Revitalization Infrastructure Group Mailing Address: 1005 McLynn Avenue NE City, State, Zip Code: Atlanta, Georgia 30306 Telephone: 404-509-0104 E-mail: [email protected] Date: October 6, 2014 February 29, 2016 August 8, 2016 October 31, 2016 February 14, 2017 (partial) April 24, 2017 What is your relationship to or interest in the district? A private consultant hired by Central Atlanta Progress whose long-standing interest and expertise in Peachtree Center leads me to believe its unique nature should be recognized with a listing on the National Register of Historic Places. 3 SECTION 1 GENERAL INFORMATION 9. Reasons for nominating the district (Explain all that apply) Recognition (explain): The Peachtree Center Historic District was mainly designed and developed by the original architect-developer John C. Portman, Jr. between 1961 and 1988. Peachtree Center was conceived as an urban destination: a sculptural complex of buildings, enlivened with original art and innovative urban design. The development of Peachtree Center reflects an era of architecture and urban design theory when different approaches attempted to slow the population shift from the urban core to suburban areas. The original intent was to connect all of the Peachtree Center buildings with sky bridges, occasionally described as “elevated promenades.” The purpose of these bridges was to create a “coordinate unit” a series of interconnected blocks that can provide a variety of urban elements, spaces, and services to act as a city within a city. This self-contained, intensively designed space was very different from what had been seen previously in downtown Atlanta. The first indication of a change in urban form was the setback plaza in front of the 230 Peachtree Building, followed by the Peachtree Center Promenade. These structures were influenced by the massing and form of the Rockefeller Plaza Channel Gardens (AIA 1975, p.13). The four office towers on the east side of Peachtree Street are based on the original 230 Peachtree Building model, a pattern that would carry over to the Marquis Buildings after the four original promenade tower sites had been built out. Later developments in Peachtree Center typically took up an entire block. This reflected of Portman’s development success and ability to increase the size and financial resources for projects such as the Apparel Mart. The complex within the district includes three atrium hotels, seven office buildings, a shopping mall, two mart buildings, and multiple sky bridges that connect the structures, public spaces, and accessory buildings and parking. The approach of Peachtree Center was to provide spectacular spaces and urban forms that cannot be found anywhere else. Peachtree Center is a truly unique location for the development of both modern architecture and contemporary urban design. The new modern atrium hotel building types can be seen in Peachtree Center in three variations. The first is the original rectilinear Hyatt design, followed by the ‘exploded’ lobby atrium, innovated for the Westin Peachtree Plaza, is one building form that is unique to Portman’s developments were first innovated here (Saxon 1983, 75). The third variation seen in the Atlanta Marriott Marquis relate to these two earlier designs and represent a continuing evolution of this form that can be found nowhere else. These structures combined represent John Portman's early innovations as an architect and 4 SECTION 1 GENERAL INFORMATION developer during a period of shifting architectural practices. John Portman was also notable among his peers for his iconoclastic ways that include the first architect to proudly serve both as architect and developer during a time of great change in the practice of architecture. John Portman never simply sought to be a mart or office building owner. While automobiles and interstate highways increasingly dominated the city landscape, Portman's designs brought a