Cultural Resources Survey of the Proposed Decatur Georgia Multifamily Development Project

In September 2020, Braun Intertec, Inc. contracted with Brockington and Associates, Inc. (Brockington)

to conduct a Phase I cultural resources survey within the proposed 12-acre Decatur Georgia Multifamily

Development in DeKalb County, Georgia (Figures MS.1 and MS.2). The Georgia Department of Community Affairs (DCA) is providing oversight for both developments. The survey was conducted in compliance with both state and federal guidelines, including Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA) of 1966 (54 USC 30010, as amended through 2016), the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation’s (ACHP) implementing regulations (36 CFR Part 800), the Secretary of the Interior’s Standards and Guidelines for Archaeology and Historic Preservation (1983), and state archaeological survey and reporting guidelines established by the Georgia Council of Professional Archaeologists (2019) and the Georgia Department of Natural Resources (GDNR) Historic Preservation Division (HPD) (2017) along with other pertinent state and federal guidelines. The primary purpose of the investigations was to identify cultural resources that may be affected by the Decatur Housing project and to recommend management options. Proposed development includes the construction of an apartment complex, associated paved roadways and parking areas, and a pool. The apartment complex will consist of a multitude of three to four-story split buildings. The archaeological Area of Potential Effects (APE) encompasses the construction limits for the proposed project. In consideration of the surrounding topography and existing vegetation, the architectural APE includes the project tract and an approximate 0.25-mile buffer. A literature review, as well as archaeological and architectural field investigations to determine if the proposed project will impact cultural resources that are eligible for the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP), was completed by Brockington in September 2020. Archaeological fieldwork consisted of pedestrian surface inspection at 15-meter (m) intervals and a total of 41 shovel tests along transects at 30-m intervals throughout the 12-acre project tract. We identified no new archaeological resources (i.e., artifacts, sites). Architectural fieldwork consisted of an intensive windshield survey and pedestrian inspection of all existing buildings and structures within the architectural APE. Eight (8) architectural resources were identified. These eight resources consist of four (4) neighborhoods, one (1) apartment complex, and three (3) individual buildings. After reviewing these resources, we recommend four of these resources eligible for listing on the NRHP under Criteria C

(architecture) (HR-1, HR-2, HR-3, HR-4). Resource HR-1 is the ca. 1966 East Atlanta Apartments, HR-2

is the ca. 1953 Mark Trail residential neighborhood, HR-3 is the ca. 1965 Highland Park residential neighborhood, and HR-4 is the Doris Drive residential neighborhood constructed from 1952 to 1968. However, we recommend that the project will not have an adverse physical or visual impact on any of

these NRHP eligible properties. After review by the Georgia State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO), a ninth property was identified via desktop review. This is a ca. 1935 house located at 2153 Tilson Road within the proposed project’s APE. However, the property is not eligible for listing on the NRHP due to a lack of integrity. The Georgia SHPO also found that the proposed project may have visual impacts to Resources H-1 and H-3. Some possible ways to avoid these impacts include, but are not limited to, retaining existing viable mature vegetation to the greatest extent possible and install a substantial vegetative buffer along the east and west parcel boundaries separating the project area from Resources HR-1 and HR-3; submitting a landscape plan to HPD for review, noting the placement and size of the buffer and the proposed plantings; and using native plant species to the greatest extent possible. Finalized site plans should be submitted to the Georgia SHPO as a PDF prior to project commencement. In summary, Brockington has identified cultural resources within the proposed 12-acre Decatur Georgia Multifamily Development project area. Due to the absence of cultural materials or sites within the project tract, no archaeological resources will be affected by the proposed development. Brockington identified eight architectural resources adjacent to the project tract; four are recommended eligible for the NRHP but will not be affected by the current project scope. Therefore, we recommend cultural resources clearance for this project.