1138 Harwell St. is a historic property in Washington Park and has been EarthCraft Sustainable Preservation certified.
For Immediate Release
ATLANTA, GA – October 14, 2019 – Southface Institute and the Georgia Trust for Historic Preservation have partnered once again to continue making historic preservation sustainable. In a partnership with the Georgia Trust for Historic Preservation and EarthCraft, 1138 Harwell St. began as an endangered historical property and has been transformed into a renovated model for affordably priced housing in Atlanta. The historic home is now on the market and will be available to tour on Wednesday, October 16th.
This modest home in Washington Park was built post-World War II for the family of Edward Johnson – a flight instructor with the Tuskegee Airmen and the first black licensed Master Electrician in the City of Atlanta. Johnson’s background allowed him to engineer a “smart home” in his basement decades before the term had been coined.
Johnson died in June 2019 at the age of 103. Before his death, the Georgia Trust approached Johnson and his family to purchase their property in the hope that the home could be maintained as an affordable option in the rapidly changing neighborhood. The property is now part of the Georgia Trust’s West Atlanta Preservation Initiative.
This 1479 sq. ft single-family home in Washington Park has been renovated to become a 3-bedroom, 1.5-bathroom house, with views of downtown Atlanta, just steps from the Westside BeltLine Trail. The renovation has also met EarthCraft Sustainable Preservation certification standards – ensuring that the home maintained several of its original structural elements, like hardwood flooring and interior doors, while exceeding energy code requirements for new construction. Additionally, air leakage in the 1953 home was reduced by over 65%, an improvement that will reduce utility costs for future homeowners.
Thanks to the partnership with the Atlanta Land Trust, 1138 Harwell St. is currently on the market for $198,000, ensuring permanent affordability of the home at 80% median income or lower. Homebuyers will need to meet specific eligibility requirements based on annual household income.
If you or someone you know is interested in purchasing this historic home, 1138 Harwell St. will be open to the public on October 16th from 5:30 PM to 8:00 PM. Homebuyers and local history enthusiasts are welcome to tour a part of West Atlanta’s history.
About Georgia Trust for Historic Preservation
Founded in 1973, the Georgia Trust for Historic Preservation works for the preservation and revitalization of Georgia’s diverse historic resources and advocates their appreciation, protection and use. As one of the country’s leading statewide, nonprofit preservation organizations, the Trust generates community revitalization by finding buyers for endangered properties acquired by its Revolving Fund and raises awareness of other endangered historic resources through an annual listing of Georgia’s “Places in Peril.” The Trust offers a variety of educational programs for adults and children; provides technical assistance to property owners and historic communities; advocates for funding, tax incentives and other laws aiding preservation efforts; and manages two house museums in Atlanta (Rhodes Hall) and Macon (Hay House).
About Southface Institute
Southface Institute, a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization, is a leader in sustainable advocacy, building, planning and operations across the U.S. With a mission to create a healthy and equitably built environment for all, Southface’s consulting services, workforce development, research and policy practices are supporting better homes, workplaces and communities. Experts in the fields of resource efficiency, building tech and organizational sustainability since 1978, Southface is committed to building a regenerative economy to meet tomorrow’s needs today.
For more information, please contact Emily Proctor, Senior Communications Manager, Southface Institute, at eproctor@southface.org.
For more information about Southface or to arrange an interview with our President Andrea Pinabell, members of the media should contact: communications@southface.org.
