A red, lighted sign advertising a karaoke bar may soon be scrawled across the side of an historic building in Atlanta.
Listed on the site of the National Register of Historic Places, Atlanta Dairies in Reynoldstown is located at 777 Memorial Drive near the Beltline Southeast trail.
Already behind its slated spring opening, Yan Karaoke has submitted a Special Administrative Permit application to the City of Atlanta Office of Zoning and Development to alter the exterior of the building, including adding a red and black LED sign and red lighted awnings.
Yan Karaoke is marketing itself as “largest karaoke restaurant in North America.” The two-story, 15,000 square foot space will be able to accommodate more than 500 guests. It features 30 private karaoke suites, VIP areas, a full-service restaurant, and multiple cocktail bars.
“We’re building a place where you can host anything from an intimate night out to a company event. It’s going to be a true entertainment destination for Atlanta,” owner Alex Yan said in a statement.
Yan is the owner of Mics Karaoke in Doraville, an over-the-top entertainment venue with private, themed karaoke rooms.
The Reynoldstown Civic Improvement League (RCIL) has concerns about the club’s proposed exterior alterations. In a June 25 letter to the city’s planning staff, RCIL said it supports active tenancy and programming at Atlanta Dairies, calling it “a centerpiece of Reynoldstown’s revitalization.”
However, RCIL is requesting conditions to “protect the building’s existing fabric.” Concerns about changes to the facade include the original cast stone entry opening, lighting, canopies, and window darkening. The proposed alterations would cause “irreversible damage” to the original building, which has been listed on the National Registry of Historic Sites.
Once reviewed, the application will go before the Atlanta City Council’s Zoning Review Board.
Historically a working dairy, it was converted into a mixed-use residential project in the 2010s by architecture firm Perkins & Will. Owned by Asana Partners, Atlanta Dairies is home to Three Taverns Brewery, the Eastern music venue, and small dining establishments.
The Reynoldstown Historic District is a large residential neighborhood located between the Cabbagetown and Edgewood neighborhoods south of the CSX rail line. Chester Avenue, Selman, Kenyon, and Wylie Streets were laid out by 1870, and are the oldest resources in the district.
