Ford Motor Company Assembly Plant
Why it's listed
Built in 1914-15 on Ponce de Leon Avenue in Atlanta, this four-story reinforced-concrete building served as both a Ford assembly plant and the headquarters of the company's Southeastern operations until 1942. Designed by John Graham, it has a face-brick front and west side trimmed with terra cotta and colored tile, large industrial sash windows, and a rooftop clerestory over a central lightwell and craneway. Inside, the front showroom and office area keep decorative plaster, walnut partitions and a marble-treaded stair, in contrast to the plain factory floor behind. The plant reflects Ford's decision to decentralize production, which lowered freight costs and improved distribution. Model T, Model A and V-8 cars were assembled here between 1915 and 1937. It is one of three surviving early Ford assembly plants in the South, with the others in Houston and Dallas. The War Department bought it in 1942 and later used it as an induction center. The building was vacant when nominated.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues it is an outstanding example of early twentieth-century commercial and industrial architecture in Atlanta and the Southeast. It is one of the earliest automobile assembly plants in the Southeast and marks the start of the auto industry in Atlanta. It also served as Ford's Southeastern headquarters from 1915 to 1942.
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 84001080, listed May 10, 1984. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 699 Ponce de Leon Ave., Atlanta |
|---|---|
| County | Fulton County |
| Listed | May 10, 1984 |
| Reference number | 84001080 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1914-15 |
| Architect / builder | John Graham |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Industry, Commerce, Transportation, Architecture |
| Level of significance | National |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Listed as vacant and unoccupied, with showroom windows boarded up with plywood; plans called for reuse as rental apartments and shops. |
| Acreage | 1 |
| Coordinates | 33.77297, -84.36429 (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.
Noted as vacant in the nomination. Nomination documents can be decades old; current status may differ. If you are considering buying an empty listed property, read the due-diligence checklist.
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 84001080.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q5467858
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.