Is the Randolph-Lucas House Worth Saving?
Does the city of Atlanta, and the Buckhead community, preserve its history well?
The Randolph-Lucas House at the intersection of Peachtree Road and Lindbergh Drive looks tiny now compared to the high-rise condos that have sprouted up around it, but the stately mansion has been there since 1924.
However, it might soon disappear. The 2500 Peachtree Condominium Association has put in a demolition application for the Randolph-Lucas House. The mansion's designation as a historic building means the Atlanta Urban Design Commission has to review the application at two upcoming public meetings first.
All of this raises some larger questions about historic preservation. Is Atlanta - and Buckhead - still a place where we're quick to bulldoze the old to make way for the new? Should the community do more to preserve historic buildings? What should happen to the Randolph-Lucas House?
Let us know what you think in the comments area below.
Lucile Harrison
4:55 pm on Monday, June 18, 2012
This house was certainly worth saving at one point. The construction which has been allowed around and behind it makes it more questionable at this point. It is a classic example of architectural styles. Much newer construction, even this style, in Atlanta does not capture the artistic, classic qualities of craftmanship, design, and proportion
represented in this home. I'm not sure of its historical value in terms of who owned/built it, or events which took place there, but Atlanta is awash in locations where a structure should have been saved but was not. Without some access to the house or to information about it for the public its historical value is diminished in terms of being of value to be enjoyed "up close and in person". As an Atlanta native (ie. I was actually born and raised and worked there) I was initially SO glad to see the house was being saved. Upon seeing this photo and knowing the lack of public access to it, present good use of it, and other buildings in the surrounding streetscape I'm not so sure. I believe the Atlanta of that era has already been lost. One building standing alone amongst modern monsters can hardly be expected to capture(or recapture) the essence. The other consideration is that if the property owners of the adjacent building are calling for its removal then they have not appreciation for it and it's only a matter of time before that will happen-regardless of what others think!
Karla Gantt
3:29 pm on Monday, June 25, 2012
As an Atlanta native, I totally disagree with Ms. Harrison. Why are we always tearing down our past? Remember The Fox!!!! Please save this house. I admire it every time I pass it. As mentioned earlier, the 2500 residents knew about this when they moved in. It should not change now.
Michael Packer
3:44 pm on Monday, June 25, 2012
Lucile, you make a very valid point. It does look strange there among the other buildings. Not sure if you saw this but Sam Massell recently gave an idea for the house: http://patch.com/A-v2BT
What do you think of his idea?
Teresa Rosche Ott
6:25 am on Wednesday, June 27, 2012
According to this write-up on the City of Atlanta's website, the house was designed by the same architect that designed the Fox Theatre building: http://www.atlantaga.gov/index.aspx?page=458