An iconic building in Atlanta’s Midtown area, often referred to as the “flying saucer” or “round restaurant,” could be in danger of being torn down in favor of a five-story self-storage structure proposed by local real estate developer Travis Pruitt & Associates (TPA). The company intends to build an 85,890-square-foot facility that would include retail on the ground floor and 28 parking spaces, according to a source.
August 10, 2016
An iconic building in Atlanta’s Midtown area, often referred to as the “flying saucer” or “round restaurant,” could be in danger of being torn down in favor of a five-story self-storage structure proposed by local real estate developer Travis Pruitt & Associates (TPA). The company intends to build an 85,890-square-foot facility that would include retail on the ground floor and 28 parking spaces, according to a source.
The mid-century modern building at 2160 Monroe Drive N.E. was designed by Atlanta architect Henri Jova in 1965 as a branch for Trust Company Bank. Noted for its futuristic look, it has since served as several restaurants and is currently home to Cirque Daiquiri Bar & Grill. Its unusual design has made it a local landmark.
“The structure is especially important not only for its historical context but also aesthetically from a design standpoint,” Jova’s former partner, David Rinehart, told a source. “There are so few of these examples in Atlanta. To destroy it for a generic storage facility without further investigation as to a viable adaptive reuse seems very shortsighted.”
Those in opposition to the building’s demolition could mount a defense against the TPA project since another local developer, RRB Development, has two self-storage proposals under consideration in the vicinity. One of the projects would be across the street from the Jova building, a source reported.
Jova designed several buildings in Atlanta including the Carter Center, Carter Library and Colony Square, a mixed-use project at 14th and Peachtree Streets that helped make the area an important intersection in the city, according to a source. He died in 2014 at the age of 94.
Founded in 1972, TPA is a full-service civil-engineering, land-design and land-surveying firm. Its portfolio includes commercial, education, health-care, master-planned and residential projects, including self-storage.
Sources:
Atlanta Business Chronicle: Viewpoint: An appeal to Save Henri Jova’s Futuristic ‘Round Bank’ Building
Travis Pruitt & Associates: Website
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