Edwards-Pitman, Inc. (EP) conducted a Phase I archaeological survey of the proposed Georgia Department of Transportation (GDOT) City Street (CS) 434/Lenox Road project to improve pedestrian safety and construct a multiuse trail along Lenox Road between State Route (SR) 141/ Peachtree Road and CS 3369/East Paces Ferry Road, near the Lenox Square Mall in Fulton County, Georgia (GDOT P.I. No. 0015999). The survey sought to identify and evaluate archaeological sites in compliance with Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA). The fieldwork was conducted on September 26, 2019.
As currently proposed, GDOT Project P.I. No. 0015999 is a multiuse lane and intersection improvement project located on Lenox Road. The proposed project will develop a shared-use path network and pedestrian corridor connection between multiple commercial, office, and residential land uses on Lenox Road from Peachtree Road NE to East Paces Ferry Road at the Lenox Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority (MARTA) Station. The project will include streetscape and pedestrian/bicycle facility improvements along Lenox Road from Peachtree Road NE to East Paces Ferry Road, approximately 670.6 meters (m) (2,200 linear feet [ft]). No lane reductions will occur and the pavement will receive full depth replacement. Streetscape and pedestrian improvements are planned on both sides of Lenox Road, including new lighting, improved sidewalks, wayfinding and signage, and trash receptacles. The proposed shared-use path will continue on the south side of the road and will include materials to preserve the existing trees (a “boardwalk” concept). New barrier railing will be installed on the back side of the boardwalk as needed. Intersection improvements include new mast arms and high visibility crosswalks. The existing right-of-way (ROW) varies from 21.3 m (70 ft) to 30.5 m (100 ft), and the proposed ROW would vary between approximately 21.3 m (70 ft) and 33.5 m (110 ft) (Table 0.1).
The project boundaries were provided by Pond & Company and represent an environmental survey boundary (ESB), which encompasses all areas of currently known and foreseeable ground disturbance. When the project is complete, the project’s area of potential effect (APE) will likely be smaller than the ESB that was surveyed. The ESB extends approximately 775 m (2542.7 ft) long and 125 m (410.1 ft) wide along CS 434/ Lenox Road from the intersection of Lenox Road and CS 3369/East Paces Ferry north to the intersection of Lenox Road and SR 141/Peachtree Road. It is approximately 8.5 hectares (ha) (21 acres [ac]) in size. As the project is in an early development stage, all direct effects are currently unknown and any changes extending outside of this ESB will require additional assessment.
The scope of work for this investigation included background research, archaeological field survey, assessment of National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) eligibility for identified archaeological sites, and completion of the Phase I survey report. Background research included a review of historic maps and aerial photographs, Georgia’s Natural, Archaeological, and Historic Resources Geographic Information System (GNAHRGIS) database and information obtained from the Georgia Archaeological Site File (GASF) regarding the location of previously recorded archaeological resources and previous surveys conducted within 1 km (0.6 mi) of the survey area. The field survey was accomplished through pedestrian coverage of the survey area, including visual inspection of all areas and shovel testing to identify archaeological resources within all portions of the ESB. One resource, site 9FU692, is partially located within the southeastern portion of the ESB. In 1982, a Phase I survey was completed by the History Group, Inc., who recorded a historic African-American community, historically known as Johnsontown and currently recorded as site 9FU692. This survey was completed for the Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority (MARTA), for the construction of the Lenox station and its adjoining parking facility (Roth et al. 1982) No NRHP recommendations were made as a result of their survey, so the current NRHP status of the site is unknown.
The Phase I archaeological survey resulted in the revisit of site 9FU692, also known as Johnsontown. While the portion of the site within the ESB has been razed and demolished for parking and the construction of newer buildings, EP revisited, delineated, and attempted to recover any new archaeological material from site 9FU692. All shovel test results were negative for cultural material and no historic features were identified within the ESB. The integrity of this portion of the site has apparently been disturbed by the construction of the Lenox MARTA station, a parking facility, and urban structures. The portion of 9FU692 located within the ESB therefore lacks integrity and significant data potential. However, because only a portion of the site is located within the ESB, 9FU692 is recommended to be of unknown eligibility for listing on the NRHP under Criterion D. It is recommended that the unknown portions of the site be protected by the establishment of an Environmentally Sensitive Area (ESA) with orange barrier fencing (OBF) along the not yet established APE for the length of the site in order to prevent any inadvertent impacts from construction. No further work is recommended for this resource at this time. According to GNAHRGIS, a streetcar line runs through the northern portion of the ESB. It was operated by the Georgia Power Company, defining it as a Georgia Power Streetcar site (GPSS).
According to the Programmatic Agreement (PA) made among the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), GDOT, and the Georgia State Historic Preservation Officer (SHPO), “if the area of potential effect (APE) only includes a GPSS, no further work is required, since GPSS in Atlanta are not considered eligible for the NRHP” (FWHA et al. 2015). Therefore, GPSS is shown on EP’s results maps, but no further investigation of this resource was conducted.
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