December 29th teardown on Morninside Drive, Atlanta

They tell us that the economy is horrible, that nobody is building. So yesterday they tore down a house on Morningside Drive.

I Regret This Teardown

We talked about Ansley Park carriage houses this week, one of Atlanta's greatest neighborhoods is denser that you think. Morningside too but it's getting less so.

Replacing multi-family with single-family is gentrification on steroids. Fewer students, singles, starter families, and empty nesters can live around here anymore. We won't get them back.



This multi-unit wasn't in sparkling condition.


There were 3 multi-families in a row built in the mid-30's according the property tax records.


They were so well integrated I didn't pay much attention. I got this picture from Google.


The replacement house (not shown) is just fine but you can't do this mix anymore.

Faux Chateau is No Mo and I'm sad.

It was a big 1952 brick rancher on a half acre. I don't exactly when, before 1990 for sure. I don't know by whom, but they turned it into a lovable modern - a POMO - and gave it a nickname: "The Faux Chateau" during construction.


Inside it was breathtaking, spacious, and fun. It was a gallery; the owners were collectors.

It wasn't a 1952 rancher anymore.


Now it's an $800K tear-down.


I saw it for the first time on a Morningside - Lenox Park Tour of Homes in the late 80's I think, soon after the conversion.


They haven't yet leveled the garage, but they will.


I saw it again last year when it was for sale. It was perfect both times.

But at 2,719 square feet, 3 bedrooms, and 2 baths, it was no longer "in" in this neighborhood.


Here is was with it's rancher neighbors.


The rancher next door is now a mansion.

That's what you do these days.

John Willis Custom Homes' sign is in the yard and and they do fine work.


But I'm feeling sad.

White and Pointy - 80 years apart

I'm participating in Metamorphosis Monday at Between Naps on the Porch. Thanks to Susan! Not a nice metamorphosis now, but let's hope these come back.

This new house - a teardown - by Atlanta architect Bradley E. Heppner - takes my breath away. It's a 2009 Morningside interpretation of something older. But isn't everything? In any case I love the pointy shapes, the simplicity, the interesting roof, the straightforward windows. I think it will be on magazine covers.



So here is a 1929'er in Druid Hills. I've been driving by it forever, always enjoying the simple white shapes. Would you keep the white windows or go for a more metal look?


The new one is a bit stark in the picture, it hasn't weathered in yet, the driveway too new. In person, it's striking but not so stark. Can you imagine white windows?


My field guide to American homes says that English houses have a door emphasis, French ones a roof emphasis. I include the door surround for Things That Inspire's post about a "carved" doorway.


Compare to the neighboring house. I've been watching it since before the teardown. Every day has been interesting. Exterior walls are concrete block with hard coat stucco.


The more I look, the more I learn, the deeper I look, the more I like.

Thanks,
Terry

P.S. What I particularly appreciate about architects and builders: Their work is forever in public and can't come in out of the rain.


That can mean gutter rocket science.

Thanks to Metamorphosis Monday at Between Naps on the Porch.

Teardown gets it's rafters

Lot's more to go before this is pretty: wood shingles, clapboard, stone, curvy porch roof, arches, columns, balconies, chimneys, eyebrow, dovecote...

We've been waiting to see the roof line. It defines the outlines, massing, the height, and the relationship with neighboring houses. (see a "wall of dread" picture in the P.S.)


There is no getting around the bigness...


...but I think the final shape moderates the bigness. This is a well designed house. Great detailing will emerge as the house nears completion. I believe it will make its neighbors look better.





Here it is in context with it's neighbors, pictures you don't see in real estate listings which always show houses as if they are the only one on the block.


The new house is making the houses on either side look different but surprisingly they don't look smaller. That's not ironclad 100% yummy goodness - I mean- those houses would look better with a garden between them.

It's a skill we don't appreciate: Architect Bob DeFiore can't make today's house look like it's neighbors. Nobody builds houses like it's neighbors any more. But within the constraints and tradeoffs between, owners requirements, costs, loans, and zoning, he controls the masses and roof lines, the details and finishes.


There is a pleasant framing / backdrop effect for the existing houses. Rather than being somewhat indistinguishable from their neighbors. Now they stand alone, framed by bigger houses in different styles, now unique rather than a pea in a pod.

Now the small houses have the deep front yards. It's part illusion, but still a luxury in our neighborhood.

Lot's more to go before this is pretty: wood shingles, clapboard, stone, curvy roofs, arches, columns, balconies, chimneys...

Here is the whole slide show


Thanks,
Terry

P.S. This is a big wall of dread in Ashford Park...


I'm sure they expected to tear down all the existing houses but I'm not crazy about the new ones.

Rock Springs Road in Piedmont Heights

It's the mixture of styles that catch the eye: One interesting block of in-town Atlanta architecture.

Rock Springs is one street with 3 names through 3 neighborhoods. This is the Rock Springs in Piedmont Heights, the western most end. It's unlike any other block I now of: Family sized houses, set back more than usual with bigger than average lots, slightly elevated.

This is the newest one. It was a teardown - not shy at all.


Porte-Cochere


Red tile with barrel dormers


Yellow-ish brick, symetry and eyebrow dormer


Farmhouse


Arch and bay clapboard


One of the very best ranchers for miles and miles


Rock Springs Road is in Piedmont Heights. It changes to North Rock Springs at Piedmont Road and begins its wind though Morningside. Until it crosses Morningside Drive where it becomes East Rock Springs Road. It crosses Rock Creek into Druid Hills where - typical for Atlanta - it becomes North Decatur Road.

Prominent Teardown/Poptop on North Highland -Part 2

It should be better than than "a place you just want to get through."

This is an important neighborhood intersection with a traffic light. The renovation of the house on the NE corner will make a difference. (Continued from "Part 1.)

This place has been a constant in my life for more than 30 years. I feel sentimental about it though my brain mostly tunes it out.

Here is the corner house scorecard. Each is a terminal vista.


Here is the SE house from the western approach facing east in the right turn lane.


A close look reveals some seriously good detailing. It's a busy place. I understand the excess bushiness.


If we're going straight or turning left, we see the poptop on the NE corner.


It's looking blue.


From the eastern approach on Morningside (facing west) we see the belle of the ball, Anshi S'fard. It's on the SW corner. This was converted from residential in the late 40's / ealy 50's. It "honors" the corner by being kitty-cornered, facing smack into the center of the intersection. That makes a difference.


What columns, what a porch, it's sturdy and solid; it faces out; it welcomes in.


The northern approach looking south on Highland also features Anshi S'fard and the side of the next house.


Pretty good even in the rain.


This is the southern approach on Highland looking north. The NW terminal vista is a line of 1-story jobs.


This is such a familiar sight, not a landmark view but interesting. With hips, gables, bricks, chimneys, stucco, and paneling there is genuine variety, far more than we'd find in similar houses built lately. It keeps me interested.


I think the corner house is multi-family. The hedge, always neatly trimmed, offers a bit of privacy.

This is very early in the story. I'll get back to you.

Let's have another look at Anshi S'fard before we go.

Very Prominent Teardown/Poptop on North Highland -Part 1

It's at the corner of Morningside and North Highland, one of our busiest crossroads. The curves and hills make this house a terminal vista. This one will have more visual impact than other renovations in the neighborhood. Could it be too good?

They seem to be raising the roof rather than tearing it down.


On Tuesday guys in HASMAT suits started on the siding, working in the rain.


I wonder if they'll keep the porch a porch. I always liked it.


This is the approach on Morningside. You can't miss it. It's not a landmark building; it was never meant to be fabulous, more a work-a-day family home.

The 2 Morningside/Rockspring intersections are a bit more upscale; so is the Rocksprings/North Highland intersection.


This was a quadraplex. That tax records imply that it was converted from single family, who knows when?

It was always well kept. The generous front porch seemed cozy even on this intersection.


I always wonder how they fit four apartments in there. The skylights must light a livable upstairs.


Must be a unit downstairs too.

I wonder what it will look like. I wonder if it will remain multi-unit or go single-family.


I hope it's good.

In Part 2 I'll show you the intersection.