Archaeological and Architectural Evaluation of the Atlanta Police Headquarters Block, Fulton County, Georgia

During the week of September 14, 1998, Brockington and Associates, Inc. conducted background research and a field reconnaissance on the block in downtown Atlanta, Georgia, where the Atlanta Police Headquarters is located. This investigation was conducted to determine the potential for significant cultural resources within the study area in accordance with the 1991 Georgia Environmental Policy Act (GEPA). The goal was to evaluate the potential impact of the proposed project on significant buildings and archaeological sites. This study recommends procedures necessary for the project to meet GEPA requirements. The subject block is located adjacent to the Georgia State University (GSU) campus and is bounded by Piedmont Avenue, Decatur Street, Butler Street, and the GSU Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority (MARTA) rail station. The proposed project entails the removal of all extant structures on the block for the construction of a parking lot. The Atlanta Police Headquarters (1960) and two historic resources, the old Atlanta City Jail (1934) and a vacant service station (1941), are located on this city block. The remainder of the block has been paved for automobile parking. The police headquarters does not meet the minimum 50 year age requirement to be considered a historic resource, and no further cultural resource management consideration is required. The jail is recommended eligible for the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) under Criteria A and C at the local level of significance. The service station is recommended ineligible for the NRHP. The field reconnaissance and background research were conducted on September 15 and 16. The site was visited, and the subject buildings were photographed. Information on the jail was obtained from a bronze plaque located on the rear of the building. Records were checked at the Georgia State Historic Preservation Division (HPD) to determine if any of the buildings were subjects of previous surveys or nominations to the NRHP. No information on these buildings was found at HPD. Research was conducted at the Library/Archives of the Atlanta History Center. Sources of information included the center's collection of photographs and books, city directories, Sanborn Fire Insurance Maps, and Atlanta city maps. Franklin Garrett's Atlanta and Environs and Taylor Branch's Parting the Waters: America During the King Years 1954-1963 are two books which served as important sources of information. Archaeological site data were reviewed at the Georgia Archaeological Site File at the University of Georgia, Athens. Seventeen previously recorded archaeological sites are present within a one mile radius of the project block. Two of these sites are located within 0.25 mile of the project area. Based on this relatively large number of archaeological resources in proximity to the project area, the potential for additional archaeological resources within the project area is moderate to high. A comprehensive archaeological survey of the project area, using backhoes for deep testing, may be necessary to determine the full extent of the archaeological deposits within the project block. Consultation with the State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO) regarding the appropriate course of action is recommended. Brockington and Associates recommends that GSU consult with the Georgia Department of Natural Resources, Historic Preservation Division (HPD) regarding the significance of resources identified during this investigation and the need for any additional assessment, the definition of an appropriate Area of Potential Effect (APE) for the proposed undertaking, the possible adverse effects of the proposed project on the Atlanta City Jail, and the possible adverse effects of the proposed project on potential archaeological resources. In this way, GSU will be in compliance with GEPA and will fulfill its regulatory requirements under that act.