Emory Grove Historic District
Why it's listed
Emory Grove is a planned residential neighborhood of about 90 acres between Emory University and Decatur, Georgia. Built mostly between 1939 and 1946, it was conceived by Neal Smith, an Emory facilities manager, and laid out by Robert and Company to provide affordable housing for university faculty and staff. The small one-story and one-and-a-half-story houses follow a single basic Colonial Revival form with minimal ornament, a result of wartime supply shortages and a decision to sell more houses on smaller lots. Curving streets, landscaped traffic islands and three interior parks echo the nearby Olmsted-designed Druid Hills plan. Two landmark buildings anchor the district: Druid Hills High School, built in 1928 to designs by Ivey and Crook, and Emory Presbyterian Church, designed by Sayward and Logan and completed in 1948. The district was listed for its architecture, landscape design and role in the suburban growth of west DeKalb County around Emory University.
Machine-generated summary. This summary was generated by a language model from the official nomination document and has not been reviewed line by line by an editor. It may contain errors. Check the source document before relying on any detail. Source: nomination document (PDF) · catalog entry. Generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29).
| Period of significance | 1928-1948 |
|---|---|
| Styles | Late 19th and 20th Century Revivals: Colonial Revival, Late Gothic Revival |
| Areas of significance | Architecture, Landscape Architecture, Community Planning and Development |
| Acreage | 90 |
| Boundary source | NPS cultural-resource GIS polygon |
| Full listing page | Emory Grove Historic District (property record) |
What listing means for this property
This is a historic district. Buildings within its boundary are either contributing (they add to the district's significance) or non-contributing. Owners of contributing income-producing buildings can claim the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit; homeowners should look at state credits. National Register districts impose no design review by themselves; a local historic district ordinance, if one exists, does (the difference explained).
General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change; confirm with your State Historic Preservation Office or a qualified adviser.