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.
Significance in brief: The district is significant under Criteria A and C for architecture, landscape architecture, and community planning and development. It holds an intact group of modest, minimal-traditional Colonial Revival houses built for middle-income Emory University families, along with two community landmark buildings. Its curving streets, traffic islands and three interior parks reflect the influence of the Olmsted-designed Druid Hills plan.
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 00000300, listed March 31, 2000. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | Centered on N. Decatur Rd. bet. the CSX RR and the University Park-Emory Highlands-Emory Estates HD, Decatur |
|---|---|
| County | DeKalb County |
| Listed | March 31, 2000 |
| Reference number | 00000300 |
| Resource type | District |
| Period of significance | 1928-1948 |
| Architect / builder | Ivey and Crook, architect; Robert and Company, engineer; Sayward and Logan, architect. Houses developed by Neal Smith. |
| Architectural style | Late 19th and 20th Century Revivals: Colonial Revival, Late Gothic Revival |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture, Landscape Architecture, Community Planning and Development |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | The neighborhood has changed very little since 1948. Houses are still used as dwellings, and the school, church and parks remain in use. |
| Acreage | 90 |
| Within district | Emory University District |
| Coordinates | 33.79312, -84.31848 (NPS GIS) |
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.
Sources and further reading
- National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places database (snapshot May 2026), reference 00000300.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q5373691
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.