Parrott Insurance Building
Why it's listed
Standing on East Broad Street across from the University of Georgia Old Campus, this three-story building in Athens dates to at least 1858, when a deed mentions a brick store on the site. The present Richardsonian Romanesque front, with a large rounded stone entrance arch, string courses, three arched windows and brick pilasters, was probably added in 1886, when the property's tax value rose. The building was converted from a mercantile store into a bank during a period of rapid economic growth. It later housed the National Bank of Athens, and a local account says officers of neighboring banks passed money through connecting back windows during financial strain. Charles Parrott, Sr., bought it in 1950, and an insurance firm had occupied it since the 1930s. In 1975 the former directors' rooms on the third floor became an apartment. It is valued as one of few buildings of its style in the city and as an adaptive reuse example.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues it is one of very few Richardsonian Romanesque buildings in Athens. It also matters for its role as The National Bank of Athens around the turn of the century, when three banks stood side by side on East Broad Street. Its 1975 conversion of the third floor to an apartment is cited as an example of adaptive reuse in the central business district.
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) · National Archives catalog entry. NRHP reference 77000416, listed October 7, 1977. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 283 E. Broad St., Athens |
|---|---|
| County | Clarke County |
| Listed | October 7, 1977 |
| Reference number | 77000416 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1800-1899 |
| Architectural style | Richardsonian Romanesque |
| Areas of significance | Economics, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Occupied; the lower floors hold professional offices and the third floor was converted to a townhouse apartment in 1975. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Within district | Downtown Athens Historic District (Additional Documentation, Boundary Increase II and Boundary Decrease) |
| Coordinates | 33.95797, -83.37485 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
For an income-producing building, listing (individually or as a contributing building in a district) is the gateway to the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit on qualified rehabilitation costs, often stackable with state credits. Work claiming the credit must follow the Secretary of the Interior's Standards and be approved in advance.
Listing does not restrict a private owner acting without federal money or permits; where federal funding or licensing is involved, Section 106 review applies.
General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change; confirm with your State Historic Preservation Office or a qualified adviser.
Sources and further reading
- National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places database (snapshot May 2026), reference 77000416.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikidata Q134286578
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.