Lenox turns 60 (Atlanta, Millen, Buckhead: for sale, 2013, loan)

[arjay57]

In many ways Lenox Square is our grand dame. She has endured tremendous buffeting, from a superhighway being built next door, to being rooted up for transit tunnel construction, and challenges from the many other malls that have come and gone.

Yet Lenox somehow keeps on ticking. For our town, 60 years is quite a run! (Consider that the Fox was only 35 years old when the city rallied to preserve it as a historical treasure, and that stadiums are usually gone in a couple of decades).

And Lenox was conceived and developed by a Millennial. Just goes to show what young folks can do.

When Ed Noble devised a plan to open Atlanta’s first shopping mall, Lenox Square in Buckhead, in the 1950s, he was a pioneer in many ways.

At the time there were only four malls nationwide.

“He met a broker on an airplane who told him about a property for sale, the John Ottley estate, Joyeuse,” his daughter, Vivian DuBose, said of the land, which was in the country then. “When his taxi drove him to see the estate, it drove right past it for a couple of miles at first. He put in a contract on the property, and the local banker all but laughed at him when he applied for a loan. He was 28 years old with a bold vision.”

More...Lenox Square celebrates its 60th anniversary as a 'retail mecca'

[Need4Camaro]

pretty interesting...never really thought much on how old that mall really was...albeit I didn't know it was that old.

But a Millennial? 60 years ago? When adding his birth age into the factor thats nearly 90 years ago.

Since we're on subject though, when you say uprooted for a transit tunnel, I'm assuming this means MARTA rail and I'm also assuming this means the Gold Line?

[arjay57]

Originally Posted by Need4Camaro

pretty interesting...never really thought much on how old that mall really was...albeit I didn't know it was that old.

But a Millennial? 60 years ago?

He was the equivalent of a Millenial in his era, N4C. Just 28 years old!

[Need4Camaro]

Originally Posted by arjay57

He was the equivalent of a Millennial in his era, N4C. Just 28 years old!

I see, I was under the presumption that Millennial described an era of people born under GenX (maturing around the 2nd decade of the new millennium) -- I personally would define him as a high achiever. I personally do not think the term Millennial is based solely on younger high achievers but a broad generation of people...and like with all generations, a select few of them are also high-achievers.

[arjay57]

Originally Posted by Need4Camaro

Since we're on subject though, when you say uprooted for a transit tunnel, I'm assuming this means MARTA rail and I'm also assuming this means the Gold Line?

Yep, the Red line and 400 come up on the southwest side and the Gold line is on the southeast side. 400 and the Red line severed a lot of connections to the mall area.

https://media.cmgdigital.com/shared/...6/Ga.400-4.JPG

[bryantm3]

lenox has been with us a long time, but you wouldn't be able to tell by looking at it. all the architecture that predates world war 2 is seen as being "truly historic", worth maintaining, and worth using original materials and designs for additions... but everything that's been built since then, for some stupid reason, now has to be remodeled with budget materials to "fit the times" every 20 years. those amazing designs from the 1960s and 1980s that really made lenox what it was have to be removed to "remain competitive", and yet ponce city market can manage to pull in the same rents in a building from the 1920s. really makes you think. lenox used to be full of fountains and flying concrete buttresses. now it looks like it could be anywhere.

[equinox63]

While we’re on the subject, here’s a little more historical information that many may not know about the area...

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Johnsontown_(Atlanta)

Johnsontown - Buckhead Heritage

https://www.atlantamagazine.com/news...rican-history/

https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.mdj...e6df5.amp.html

[cqholt]

[arjay57]

That is a great example of MCM architecture, cq.

And notice all the single family homes across the street on Lenox.

[cqholt]

Originally Posted by arjay57

that is a great example of mcm architecture, cq.

And notice all the single family homes across the street on lenox.

so much impervious surface