Disused Atlanta Industrial Site Slated for Historic Status

Located in an area of Atlanta undergoing rapid redevelopment, Pullman Yard is "a collection of 11 commercial buildings located on the largest single tract of land in the rapidly redeveloping Kirkwood neighborhood, east of Little Five Points." Now, the city's Urban Design Commission is considering a historic designation for the entire site.

David Pendered writes, "The property has been out of use since the state closed in 1993 an oil-fired steam-engine excursion train it had housed there. [...] The site has been the subject of several redevelopment efforts since the state bought it in 1990 for almost $1.7 million, according to DeKalb County tax records."

Valued at $7.4 million, the site has been subject to several unconsummated redevelopment efforts. "Now, the Atlanta Urban Design Commission is considering a proposal to designate the buildings and the entire site as a Landmark Building/Site." Instead, "such a designation would not preclude redevelopment, according to the relevant Atlanta municipal code. The designation would create a number of administrative hurdles that a redevelopment plan would have to overcome."