Cultural Resources Survey of the Proposed Greenbriar Parkway Multifamily Development Project

Management Summary

In October 2020, Braun Intertec, Inc., contracted with Brockington and Associates, Inc. (Brocking-ton), to conduct a Phase I cultural resources survey within the proposed 25-acre Greenbriar Parkway Multifamily Development in Fulton County, Georgia (Figures MS.1 and MS.2). The Georgia Department of Community Affairs (DCA) is providing oversight for the development as Braun Intertec, Inc., is seeking funding through the Housing Tax Credit Program (LIHTC). The survey was conducted in compliance with both state and federal guide-lines, including Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA) of 1966 (54 USC 300101, as amended through 2016), the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation’s (ACHP) implementing regulations (36 CFR Part 800), the Secretary of Interior’s Standards and Guidelines for Archaeology and Historic Preservation (U.S. Department of the Interior [USDI] 1983), and state archaeological survey and reporting guidelines established by the Georgia Council of Professional Archaeologists ([GCPA] 2019) and Georgia Department of Natural Resources (GDNR) Historic Preservation Division (HPD) (2017), as well as other pertinent state and federal guidelines.

The primary purpose of the investigation was to identify cultural resources that may be affected by the Greenbriar Parkway housing project and to recommend management options. Proposed development includes the construction of an apartment complex and associated paved roadways and parking areas. The apartment complex will consist of a multitude of three- to five-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 November 2020.

Archaeological fieldwork consisted of pedestrian surface inspection at 15-meter intervals and a total of 67 shovel tests along transects at 30-meter intervals throughout the 25-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. Two resources were identified: one Commercial Mall and one Church. After reviewing these resources, we recommend that only the Commercial Mall (recommended as GBR-1) should be considered eligible for listing on the National Register under Criterion A in the area of commercial development at the local level. Re-source GBR-1 is a c. 1965 Commercial Mall named Greenbriar Mall and was one of the first enclosed malls constructed in the City of Atlanta.

In summary, Brockington has identified cultural resources within the proposed 25-acre Greenbriar Parkway Multifamily Development project area. Due to the absence of cultural materials or archaeological sites within the project tract, no archaeological resources will be affected by the proposed development. Brockington identified two architectural resources adjacent to the project tract; one is recommended eligible for the NRHP but will not be affected by the current project scope. There-fore, we recommend cultural resources clearance for this project.