Atlanta Land Improvement CompanyHunnicutt, Calvin Welborn, 1827-1915Rosenthal, Jacob J.Dunagan, H. LeeUnited States, Georgia, Fulton County, Atlanta, 33.749, -84.38798Georgia Trust for Historic Preservation1998Baltimore Block. From its "statement of significance" in its 1976 National Register of Historic Places application prepared by architect H. Lee Dunagan: The recorded history of the Block begins on January 2, 1886, when the Atlanta Land Improvement Company formally announced that it had completed "its row of brick residences on Spring Street," the 14 original rowhouses introduced by Baltimore-based architect Jacob J. Rosenthal that became Atlanta’s first rental units. Built on land initially owned by pioneer Atlantan Calvin Welborn Hunnicutt (1827-1915), the residential units which constituted the original "Baltimore Block"--so called because of their similarity to typical Baltimore townhouses--were at that time located near the northernmost outskirts of Atlanta. These residences were some of the most luxurious living quarters of the time, featuring the area’s first central heating systems, marble mantels and gaslight fixtures. Its unified façade, designed in the rowhouse style that at the time was popular in large Northeastern cities, provides a great contrast even to this day, in Atlanta where the richly landscaped, sprawling suburban residence is more common. Sited on elevated lots facing the downtown skyline, the Block's interesting and unusual form and character make it a unique landmark for the city. The site, which measured some 255 feet along what was then Hunnicutt Avenue and ran some 140 feet down Spring Street, was divided into 14 parcels of land, each 18.2 feet wide, to be leased for a period of 99 years at the annual rate of $110, a "ground lease" practice that was well-established in Baltimore. On these parcels, the townhouses, which sold for $4000 each, were constructed in pairs complete with "gardens" and "verandas." By the early 20th century, the apartments had lost their luster. Some were abandoned and four were torn down in the 1920s. In the next decade, with some modern renovations, the remaining units saw new life. Many row houses were subdivided into smaller apartments. The original fourteen units, for years the most fashionable address in the city, were first altered in 1924 when Ben Massell and Lee Hagan demolished numbers 21, 23, 25 and 27--the houses closest to Spring Street--to make room for commercial shops. Even today, this type of commercial pressure is the Block's biggest threat and the primary reason that only 8 of the original units remain: Numbers 1 and 3 were cleared away in the 1960s. At the time of its construction, Baltimore Block was located on land that had previously been farmland and initially was so far out that the roads were entirely unsuitable for the safe passage of carriages. Nevertheless, from the time of its conception until about 1914, Baltimore Block was considered to be one of Atlanta's greatest centers for social affairs and, as a result, was a top tourist attraction, especially for first-time visitors to the city. Among the early residents of the Block were Judge and Mrs. Elgine Lochran (#21); Dr. Brochett, a rector of St. Phillips; Dr. A. E. Armstrong (#11); and Starnes or Steam Family (the name appears in records with both spellings) (#3);one of the original owners. Other owners included I. Austell (#27); M. G. Warring (#25); H. Badman (#23); A. and L. Cunningham (#15); J. A. Topliff (#13); J. H. Ketner (#9); C. D. L. Robes (#7); J. M. Goldsmith (#5); and C. A. Strang (#1). Variant names include: Baltimore Block. See ref # 76000622 (Baltimore Block) at https://www.nps.gov/subjects/nationalregister/upload/national-register-listed-20240710.xlsximage/jp2enghttp://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC-EDU/1.0/ArchitectureHistoric sites--Georgia--Fulton CountyHistoric buildings--Georgia--Fulton CountyArchitecture, Domestic--Georgia--Fulton CountyRow houses--Maryland--BaltimoreArchitecture, Domestic--Maryland--BaltimoreRow houses--Georgia--AtlantaArchitecture, Domestic--Georgia--AtlantaArchitects and builders--History--19th centuryBrick houses--History--19th centuryCultural property--ProtectionHistoric preservation--GeorgiaHistoric buildings--Conservation and restorationBaltimore BlockStillImage