100-Year-Old Building in MLK Historic District to Be Demolished by Georgia State #atlanta

Georgia State University will demolish a 100-year-old building in the MLK Historic District as part of its downtown Atlanta expansion.

The building at 148 Edgewood Avenue, originally constructed in 1926 as a Georgia Power substation, will be replaced with a Fraternity and Sorority Life Plaza featuring green space for Greek housing, a mural to honor the building’s history, and salvaged brickwork from the original structure. This demolition is part of GSU’s broader plan to create a “college town” downtown — which also includes demolishing Sparks Hall at 33 Gilmer Street to build a Panther Quad and turning Gilmer Street into a car-free pedestrian zone.

Preservationists and residents have opposed the demolition for over a year, citing concerns about losing another piece of Atlanta’s visual history.