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LOCAL
CHAMPION!
July 28 - Aug. 3, 2016 • Page 4A
Northcrest neighborhood
considered for historic
nomination
The Northcrest neighborhood in DeKalb County is known for being eclectic, funky
and inclusive by residents. Photo used courtesy of Northcrest Civic Association.
Northcrest’s mid-century modern and ranch style homes, unique in Atlanta, are
being considered for nomination into the National Registry of Historic Places.
Photo used courtesy of domoREALTY.
by R. Scott Belzer
sbelzer@dekalbchamp.com
F inding a neighborhood of
houses hailing from the first
wave of post-World War II
suburbia, often referred to as
mid-century modern may be a rarity
for some.
Unless, of course, one is
familiar with the Northcrest
neighborhood and similar ones in
the Chamblee-Doraville area.
Constructed between 1959 and
1975, the Northcrest neighborhood
consists of dozens of A-frame split-
level houses, ranch-style homes
with wood siding and brick veneer,
open carports and large lawns.
In other words, what one might
expect from the era immediately
following World War II, a period of
time frequently referred to as the
beginning of suburban sprawl.
The Northcrest Civic
Association (NCA) is taking steps
to ensure Northcrest’s aesthetic
appeal and history are preserved
and honored for years to come.
NCA recently applied for the
neighborhood to be officially
considered the Northcrest Historic
District by the National Register of
Historic Places.
“The [neighborhood] is a
good example of a planned tract
development in suburban Atlanta
that included a mixture of houses,
a school, a park and a swim/tennis
center,” states NCA’s application.
“Northcrest is the culmination
of that trend in the metropolitan
Atlanta area.”
Designation as a historic
district affords the neighborhood
such benefits as favorable tax
treatments, historic values, and
eligibility for federal grants. If
chosen, the Georgia National
Register Review Board will officially
nominate the district on Aug. 26.
According to its official
application, the district-outlined
by Chamblee-Tucker Road to the
south, Northcrest Road to the west
and Pleasantdale Road to the
north and east—encompasses four
subdivisions totaling 396 acres:
Northcrest, Northcrest East, Hidden
Acres and Concord Manor.
The neighborhood’s
development followed the
same path as most suburban
neighborhoods in post-World War II
America, offering affordable middle-
class homes to industry workers.
“The Northcrest Historic District
was developed as part of an
explosion of growth in suburban
DeKalb County in the years
following World War II,” states
NCA. “The neighborhood provided
housing and other amenities
for workers in new industries in
the area, such as the Doraville
General Motors plant. Northcrest
is significant in architecture for its
good, intact collection of mid-20th
century houses that follow the
predominant national trends of the
time.”
Historical documents suggest
Northcrest represented an
innovative step for developers
Walter Tally, Howard Hardrath
and Paul Edwards. Tally
previously worked with lenders
on Northwoods, a similarly styled
development in Doraville. The same
lenders were “initially reluctant to
finance the more innovative designs
of the Contemporary-style houses,”
designed by Georgia Tech graduate
Ernest Mastin.
The sleek, A-Framed houses
were eventually funded and
specifically designed for each lot
in the neighborhood. Following the
trend of modernism, the houses
are often designed around the
surrounding environment rather
than the other way around.
According to Vanessa Reilly,
owner and broker of domoREALTY,
Northcrest is unusual in offering
mid-century modern homes in an
otherwise traditional city that favors
classic styles.
“There’s nothing in Atlanta like
it,” Reilly said. “There’s a lot of
big history that goes along with it.
Atlanta is such a traditional city that
mid-century modern and modern
homes were few and far between in
the 1960s.”
Reilly said mid-century modern
homes attract a specific type of
buyer but not necessarily a specific
type of person.
“Not everyone likes mid-century
modern homes, but the people
who do, love them,” Reilly said.
“The houses are architecturally
interesting. People are always
impressed with the openness of the
floorplan. A variety of people are
drawn to this type of architecture.”
NCA Vice President Debra
Knott said Northcrest’s uniqueness
goes beyond architecture. Knott
credited the neighborhood’s eclectic
blend of new and original owners,
cohesiveness and community
engagement as attributes that set
the district apart from others in
Atlanta.
“It’s exciting for people to
move into modern housing, but
it’s really the people that make it a
great neighborhood,” Knott said.
“We have tons of young families
mixed with original homeowners.
We have five bands that live in
the neighborhood. We have a
cartoonist. It’s really an ‘in’ place
with a funky mix of people.”
According to Knott, inclusion
seems to be the norm in Northcrest.
The neighborhood has its own
newspaper, pool and tennis
club, social events, parades and
celebrations, all without an official
homeowners association.
“We have a lot of little
groups that work together for the
betterment of the neighborhood,”
Knott said.
For more information on
Northcrest, NCA or the potential
Northcrest Historic District, visit
www.northcrestcivicassociation.
com.
OITV OF LITHONIA, GEORGIA NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING VARIANCES
AND AMENDMENTS TO ZONING ORDINANCE AND ZONING MAP
Notice is hereby given that the Mayor and City Council of the City of Lithonia,
Georgia will hold a public hearing for consideration of the following variances
and amendments to the Lithonia Zoning Ordinance
14-05-01 (re-adopted with amendments July 5, 2015).
1 .Application by Bainbridge Limited LP for several variances related to the
Granite Crossing housing development, located at 6887 Max Cleland Blvd.
in the Lithonia Plaza. The variances include the required setback of the
building; residential use on ground floor; increase in building height;
allowance of slope in roof line; location of parking; and driveway entries.
Additionally, the applicant is requesting approvalof the proposed building
materials and the architectural style.
2. Amendment of Article V. Administration, Division 3. Special Administrative
Permits, Sec. 27-894.
Planning and Zoning Commission, Para. 1 Membership and appointments to
include the following language -’’Notwithstanding any provisions to the contrary,
up to two members of the commission may reside outside of the City of Lithonia,
who bring expertise beneficial to the commission.”
3. Amendments to the Official Zoning Map to update any approved changes or
make corrections.
The hearing will be held on Monday, the 15th day of August, 2016, at 6:00 PM in
the Lithonia City Hall at 6920 Main Street, Lithonia, Georgia.
Written comments concerning the proposed variances and amendment may
be filed with the City Clerk prior to the public hearing or submitted at the
hearing. Individuals interested in commenting on the proposed amendment,
either in writing or verbally, will be given the opportunity to be heard at the above
mentioned time and place. The proposed variances and amendments, findings
and recommendations of the Zoning Administrator and the Official Zoning Map
noting the location of properties may be examined at Lithonia City Hall, Lithonia,
Georgia. Further information may be obtained by contacting Ms. Leah
Rodriguez,City Clerk, at 770.482.8136.
Deborah A. Jackson
Mayor,City of Lithonia
