11 Most Endangered
Sweet Auburn
Year Listed: 1992
Location: Atlanta , Georgia
Current Status: Endangered
Threat: Deterioration, Neglect
Significance
Once rich with the sounds of Cab Calloway, Diana Ross and James Brown, Sweet Auburn thrived in the mid-20th century as a bustling center of Atlanta's African-American life. But in the 1960s and 1970s, like so many other inner-city neighborhoods, Sweet Auburn fell victim to disinvestment, crime and abandonment, its problems compounded by highway construction that split it in two. Despite the efforts of community activities and historic preservationists, there is no longer-term plan for revitalizing the Sweet Auburn historic district.
Updates
New construction is occurring in Atlanta's Sweet Auburn. Infill construction is a commodity long sought by local preservationists. Advocates fear however, that multiple infill projects will damage the community's 19th-century streetscape and fragment a cohesive urban core into many disparate parts. Preservation partners recognize Sweet Auburn's high vacancy rate and fear unchecked redevelopment will spur the wholesale demolition of historic properties, providing the "wrong model" for reinvestment. The Georgia Trust has assumed a pro-active role and is talking with the Historic District Development Corporation about pursuing a planning study for this portion of the City of Atlanta.
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