Looking Down West Peachtree Street

When we moved to Atlanta in the early 90s, we lived one block north of the intersection of 14th and Peachtree Street. At the time, the area adjacent to that crossing was undergoing a revival, with new skyscrapers and Colony Square as the anchoring site. It was a small oasis in the midst of an area that had seen better days. One block west, on West Peachtree Street, the revitalization was just beginning. The corner of 14th and West Peachtree Street had the IBM building with its gothic points, but up and down West Peachtree Street from the IBM building and its cascading water features was a wasteland of sorts, except for the Arts Center MARTA station and Center Stage.

Starting with the recession in 2008, all building came to a halt, and cranes over the area disappeared. Empty lots and old buildings, some seldom used, dominated the street. Center Stage, a concert venue, was the only reason I ever ventured there aside from the MARTA station.

The effects of the recession lasted maybe seven or eight years; then the cranes returned—in force. West Peachtree has seen a tremendous jump in building activity, to the point where it is difficult to remember its former appearance. Standing at Pershing Point Park and looking southward, one sees an impressive wall of new construction and pedestrian activity. There is street-level dining and shopping, hundreds of new living spaces, and decorative landscaping.

In mid-February, 600si in hand, I went to Pershing Point Park (first time), and I was so taken by the transformation of the area that I took no images of the tiny park but instead used my last few frames to capture images of the revitalized street. I came away so impressed that I vowed to return soon for better pics. Well, as you know, life intervened, and I was unable to return until yesterday. Leaf-less February has given way to green and lush July, so I took a stroll from Pershing point to the IBM building.

 

 

IBM fountain (Canon Powershot S95)

The IBM building holds fond memories for me. My daughter was a toddler when we moved to Atlanta, and she was not given to going to sleep until 11 PM. My wife and I envied parents whose toddlers crashed promptly at 7 PM–oh, how we wished… But, we learned the secret to getting our little cutie to go to sleep—evening walks. The fountain at the IBM building was the perfect destination, so we would take pool shoes and let her play near the fountain. That way, she was asleep at least by 9:30.

Now, more than 30 years later,  I can not help but feel a sense of pride at what has become of the old neighborhood. What was once primarily a street one took to get to someplace else has become its own destination–somewhere to linger. My hat is off to the architects who designed the Midtown skyscrapers. The AT&T and IBM buildings have a neo-Gothic (is this a thing?) style that is distinctive and regal. I managed to get one shot with both buildings—love ‘em!

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