A public hearing held on May 28 regarding the planned demolition of Atlanta’s historic 148 Edgewood Ave. building saw intense confrontations between preservationists and project leaders as they discussed Georgia State University’s (GSU) project to create a new greenspace.
Georgia State announced its intention to demolish the structure, which was built around 1926 by Georgia Power, to establish the “Fraternity and Sorority Life Plaza.” This planned area is intended to serve as dedicated greenspace for the school’s Greek life, featuring a grassy lawn, walkways, and benches tailored for Greek organizations.
This announcement ignited considerable backlash among preservationists, who emphasized the historical significance of 148 Edgewood Ave. and its importance to the Martin Luther King Jr. Historic District. The building is noted for its industrial architecture, high ceilings, durable materials, and encompasses about 8,800 square feet.
Officially recognized as a contributing structure to the Martin Luther King Jr. District in 1989 and later included in the National MLK Jr. Preservation District in 1992, the site has been owned by GSU since 1966. In 2014, a Campus Historic Preservation Plan from the university even identified the property as worthy of long-term preservation.
David Mitchell, Executive Director of the Atlanta Preservation Center, expressed that the demolition plan undermines the integrity of the historic district, which is already at risk, having lost 47 percent of its national register properties. He highlighted the current designation of the building as one of the “Places in Peril” by the Georgia Trust for Historic Preservation.
In a public statement, District 5 Atlanta City Councilmember Liliana Bakhtiari commented on the situation, stating that the demolition would harm the integrity of the Landmark district and undermine historical awareness efforts in the city.
“This building is more than brick and mortar; it is a piece of living history located in a district that bears the name of one of our nation’s most revered moral leaders,” Bakhtiari said.
As the public hearing unfolded, tensions escalated, creating a divide in the crowd assembled in Centennial Hall.
GSU Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer L. Jared Abramson presented details of the project on posterboards, but the session quickly devolved into arguments among participants. Alumni, students, professors, community members, officials, and preservationists passionately voiced their thoughts against the demolition.
Among the supporters of the project was Kameron Wells, a recent GSU graduate and member of the Divine Nine, a collective of historically Black Greek-letter organizations, specifically Phi Beta Sigma. Wells took to the floor to express support for the new plaza.
“We, as the Divine Nine, have been asking for a space for us to congregate for years,” Wells stated, highlighting the necessity for a dedicated area.
While Wells had no involvement in the project, he decided to attend the hearing after seeing a social media post about it, indicating a strong showing of support from the Divine Nine members. During the meeting, he responded to questions and concerns from the audience regarding environmental studies and the potential for adaptive reuse of the historic building.
He argued that the new park would provide a cultural space for the community, pointing out that previously, the Divine Nine had rented Greek rooms — however, these spaces were taken down, and rising rental rates left them without a dedicated gathering spot.
The university, according to Wells, deemed it too expensive to renovate the 148 Edgewood Ave. building into a suitable space for the Divine Nine, instead proposing an “homage” to Greek life that would feature shields of the organizations in chronological order around a depiction of the building’s facade.
This proposal has drawn criticism from preservationists. Mary Budwick, the Communications Coordinator for the Atlanta Preservation Center, challenged Wells during the hearing about what he and others would truly benefit from — a park or a repurposed historic building embodying Atlanta’s Black legacy.
“Do you think you would benefit more from a patch of grass or a little park?” Budwick asked. “Or do you think figuring out a way to use that building, which houses the Black legacy of Atlanta, would create a space that would get more use?”
Wells countered that he preferred a visible, public space that could be accessed by everyone rather than a definition limited to Divine Nine members or students with access to campus facilities. The public hearing concluded without reaching a consensus, but the university must now consider the public comments submitted both during the meeting and online.
Mitchell expressed dissatisfaction with the hearing, feeling it did not meet the requirements for public dialogue and instead resembled a presentation. Regardless, he was encouraged by the turnout.
He and other preservationists are now urging ongoing engagement from the community and some have stated their intention to email the Governor. Mitchell affirmed that the fight to save 148 Edgewood Ave. is far from over.
“The Atlanta Preservation Center will continue to work with GSU facilities to preserve 148 Edgewood and find a way to utilize that structure to benefit the Divine Nine Greek chapters and do so through the inclusion of this historic building,” Mitchell stated.
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