On February 2nd, 2008, I participated in my first outing with a local UrbEx group.  After learning the secret handshake allowing me access to the group, I made my way into Atlanta to meet the group.  What I found was a very friendly, professional, and interesting collection of people who all appeared to be chomping at the bit to get their cameras inside of City Hall East.  This is a place that is approached by photographers on a daily basis, yet none have been allowed save a few from the local media.

With the building now under plans to be “rehabilitated” into the new Ponce Park by the Morsberger Group, we all were anxious to enter the 2,000,000-square-foot building, the largest commercial building in Georgia, and capture a piece of Atlanta history.  Once the building is gutted and transformed, it will never be the same, bringing the building into the new but wiping away the old.  Our photos would help serve as a reminder of what the building once was.

At the core of the development project is the two million square foot adaptive reuse of the historic Sears distribution center on Ponce de Leon originally built in 1926. Presently called City Hall East and owned by the City of Atlanta, the Sears building’s shell will ultimately accommodate 614 residential units, 130,000 sf of retail space, and 42,000 sf of office space. While placing the historic structure on the National Register of Historic Places, the development plan will also create six adjacent building pads for the new construction of mixed-use, residential, and commercial buildings.

A presentation started the morning off.  Of note, prior to Sears, Roebuck & Company creating this giant landmark, there was a natural fountain believed to provide fertility and other healing powers to those who would come drink from the fountain.  Sears built over the fountain in the early part of the 1900’s and the water is not something today that would be best consumed.  As such, there are large pumps in the gut of the building directing the water back into the Atlanta sewer system.  Much of the building appears to be dormant, covered in dirt and dust, a remnant of the bustling activity that was present in every room of the massive structure.

Breaking up into groups, we explored various parts of the structure, though it was so massive we could only visit certain areas.  Also, Atlanta Police Department occupied certain spaces, along with their 911 Communication Center. 

The Morsberger Group and Adams & Co. control the north parcel and its building via a binding contract with the City of Atlanta providing for the purchase of the building when the City’s Police and Fire Departments relocate to a new Public Safety Building already under construction downtown. Due to the leadtime involved in constructing the new building and a separate 911 call facility, the expected acquisition date will be the second quarter of 2009.

While we knew that APD was in the building, we were never more aware than when our guide led us into the evidence room by mistake.  APD was not happy to see a small bundle of photographers strolling in, with cameras out.  “You could get arrested for coming in here,” we were told. “Well, I guess the doors were open so you couldn’t see the sign,” he then said.  You think? 

Lunch was catered and after we had time to catch our breath, we split up again and went to take some more photos.  This time we walked around the exterior of the building.  Having worked in College Park for several years, I thought some of the homeless camps there were bad, but they were nothing compared to the littered despair around and behind City Hall East.  Nature was doing its part to cover up man-made structures, such as signs and railroad tracks, and doing a good job.  In some areas, it almost reminded me of the History Channel’s “Life Without People”.

The group organizer did a wonderful job in getting this to actually happen.  The catered lunch and other event amenities were icing on the cake.  As this was my first experience with this group, I was more than pleased. She gets extra stamps on her cool card.

The best of the photos are said to be included in an upcoming show at City Hall East, something which I would be extremely proud to be a part of.

And speaking of the photos, here are some of the ones that I took during the trip: