University Park-Emory Highlands-Emory Estates Historic District
Why it's listed
This residential neighborhood of about 67 acres lies south of Emory University in DeKalb County, near Decatur, Georgia. It grew in three phases between 1916 and 1943: University Park (1916), Emory Highlands (1923) and Emory Estates (1925). Streets run seamlessly between the three, and houses share uniform setbacks, large front lawns and mature plantings. Craftsman-style bungalows, English Vernacular Revival cottages and two-story Colonial Revival houses are the most common types. The street plan echoes neighboring Druid Hills, with curved street elements, landscaped traffic islands, sidewalks with planting strips and granite curbs, though lots are smaller and uniform, and streets run on a north-south axis. The smaller lots reflect demand for moderate housing for workers in Atlanta and Decatur and for Emory University faculty and staff. The district counts 150 contributing buildings and one contributing site, the street plan, along with 31 noncontributing buildings. These include later houses and two motel buildings on North Decatur Road.
Significance in brief: The district is significant for architecture because it contains Craftsman bungalows, English Vernacular Revival cottages and Colonial Revival houses typical of early 20th-century Georgia. It is significant for landscape architecture because its plan borrows design elements from neighboring Druid Hills. It is significant for community planning because its smaller, uniform lots reflect rising demand for moderately priced housing near Atlanta, Decatur and 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) · National Archives catalog entry. NRHP reference 97001638, listed August 31, 1998. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | Roughly bounded by N. Decatur Rd., Durand Dr., Peavine Cr., and the Druid Hills Historic District, Decatur |
|---|---|
| County | DeKalb County |
| Listed | August 31, 1998 |
| Reference number | 97001638 |
| Resource type | District |
| Period of significance | 1916-1943 |
| Architect / builder | O. F. Kauffman, engineer; J. T. Nash, engineer |
| Architectural style | Late 19th and 20th Century Revivals: Tudor Revival, Colonial Revival; Late 20th Century American Movements: Bungalow/Craftsman |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Community Planning and Development, Landscape Architecture, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Current functions are single and multiple dwellings. A c. 1930 log cabin built for Girl Scouts survives and is now used as rental property. |
| Acreage | 85 |
| Coordinates | 33.79059, -84.31593 (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 97001638.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q7894857
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.