The Historic Druid Hills Home & Garden Tour is back April 26-28, and this year our 10 featured properties tell the tale of a community that has fought to keep Frederick Law Olmsted’s vision for the neighborhood intact. Even as the population of intown Atlanta grew, shrank, and then really took off, the spirit of Druid Hills continued to shine and is now brighter than ever.
Olmsted’s Vision
Olmsted, renowned landscape architect and designer of some of the country’s most famous parks and estates (think Central Park and The Biltmore), believed in the importance of open spaces for the health and well-being of urban residents. He incorporated this philosophy into his design for Druid Hills and aimed to seamlessly integrate natural landscapes with residential development. His plan called for winding roads and pathways that followed the contours of the land, rather than imposing a rigid grid pattern. Generous lot sizes were very intentional, to create a sense of openness and privacy for residents, while featuring gracefully landscaped views. The majestic tree canopy Druid Hills enjoys today is thanks to Mr. Olmsted. Once the neighborhood was established and gaining momentum, Druid Hills Civic Association (DHCA) was founded in 1938 to preserve it for residential use and to protect the unique heritage of the area.
The Fight for Druid Hills
Over the years, Druid Hills, like other intown Atlanta neighborhoods, shifted and adapted as housing needs and lifestyles changed. And, as with so many other cities across the United States during the mid-20th century, Druid Hills faced the threat of being divided by highway construction. The proposed I-485 would have cut right across the Olmsted Linear Parks and right through the heart of the idyllic neighborhood that Olmsted so carefully planned. That threat, along with economic changes, racial tensions, aging infrastructure, and governmental policies, led many of the residents to leave the neighborhood for newer suburbs. Some of the large homes they left behind were split up into apartments or became boarding houses, and others were simply abandoned.
But, we all know the happy ending for Druid Hills. Lots of enthusiastic residents stayed or found their way to historic homes they lovingly cared for. Many of them banded together, along with the DHCA, to fight the long fight against the highway. Thankfully, the “Roadbusters” prevailed, and the neighborhood remained intact.
More and more, prospective homeowners are drawn to the community, and aren’t afraid to tackle big projects that return the blighted homes back to their former glory – even if they’re used a little differently than they once were. Houses that are featured on this 56th year of the Historic Druid Hills Home & Garden Tour showcase what we call “true Druid Hills stewardship”.
Protected by Preservation
Thankfully, in 1966 the National Historic Preservation Act was passed by Congress. Starting in 1975 with the “Ponce de Leon Parks and Parkway” listing, almost all of Druid Hills is recognized on the National Register of Historic Places. From that jumping-off point, the City of Atlanta instituted historic preservation protection for the Druid Hills Landmark District in 1989. DeKalb County created the protected Druid Hills Local Historic District in 1994. Our preservation guidelines foster Druid Hills’ continued eclectic but cohesive appeal and respect the important role of green spaces.
Come see for yourself why people are drawn to Olmsted’s Druid Hills. The Tour runs Friday, April 26 through Sunday, April 28. Learn more at druidhillstour.org.
