Baltimore Block
Why it's listed
Baltimore Block is a row of eight three-story brick townhouses on Baltimore Place in Atlanta, completed in 1885-1886 by the Atlanta Land Improvement Company. Fourteen units were originally built, designed to look like one unified structure in the style of Baltimore and other northeastern row houses. Each unit measured about 70 by 18 feet and had amenities such as independent sewerage, central heating and a hot-water boiler. Decorative brickwork, terra cotta panels, marble sills and a heavy bracketed cornice mark the facade. Early residents made it a leading social center and tourist attraction until about 1914. It is described as Atlanta's first apartment complex and first row-house group. Four units were demolished in 1924 for shops, and two more were cleared in the 1960s. Stoops were turned sideways and given iron railings, and the rear has gained balconies, chimneys and added rooms. The block remains in residential use but faces pressure from downtown commercial growth.
Significance in brief: The nomination presents it as Atlanta's first apartment complex and the first group of buildings in the city built in the northeastern-style row-house form. It was a fashionable address and a center of social events from 1886 to about 1914. It is also valued as a unique landmark and an example of a workable urban housing solution.
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 76000622, listed June 3, 1976. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 5,7,9,11,13,15,17,19 Baltimore Pl., Atlanta |
|---|---|
| County | Fulton County |
| Listed | June 3, 1976 |
| Reference number | 76000622 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1885-1886 |
| Architect / builder | Atlanta Land Improvement Co. |
| Architectural style | Italianate |
| Areas of significance | Community Planning and Development, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Described as in full use today as housing, though altered and under constant threat from downtown commercial expansion. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 33.76851, -84.38780 (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 76000622.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q4852788
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.