Establishing Shot
Fairlie-Poplar Historic District

By Stephen Hart
Staff Writer

Fairlie-Poplar gets its name for the two cross streets at the center. (photo: Nathan Flood)

It's a place for the perfect urban getaway: rent a hotel room in a former office building, take a stroll to an art gallery or to the Rialto Theatre for a concert, have dinner at a fine restaurant and enjoy the green space of Woodruff Park before bedtime. All within walking distance.

This is the Fairlie-Poplar District, an area of downtown Atlanta that is as rich in history as it is in ambience. Starting from the end of the Civil War, the area steadily grew as the South's commercial district, attracting industrial and retail firms, branch offices, and warehousing. Skyscrapers and office buildings sprang up as the area developed, many of those buildings still standing today. Along with the commercial boom came retail and residential space.

Fairlie-Poplar was the target of revitalization in 1992. The historic office buildings were once again occupied by businesses, while others were converted into living space. Retail businesses were encouraged to return; restaurants ranging from diner fare to fast food franchises to fine dining opened their doors. Georgia State University, its main campus just a few blocks away, houses several of its schools and offices in the area. Landscaping, public art and brick sidewalks were added to enhance the area's unique atmosphere.

Within walking distance of major Atlanta attractions Underground Atlanta, Centennial Olympic Park, CNN Center and Georgia World Congress Center, it has become a welcome and fascinating place for sightseeing.

The architecture of the district is a testament to its long history. Though re-development has significantly changed the face of or erased many of Fairlie-Poplar's buildings, commercial structures and skyscrapers ranging from Victorian to art deco to glass-and-steel designs trace its longevity and progress. Six structures—including the United States Post Office and Customs House, the English-American "Flatiron" Building, and the Healey Building—are listed in the National Register of Historic Places, and represent some of the finest examples of architecture in Atlanta. The District itself was listed in 1982.

Much of Atlanta's commercial and business activity has spread to other parts of the city, or moved northwards as downtown grew. But the Fairlie-Poplar District remains its heart, the area where it started—and where it still thrives.

Stephen Hart is a Clayton County Georgia librarian by day, and a screenwriter and filmmaker night and weekends.

photo by Nathan Flood

Georgia Entertainment Industry Investment Act
courtesy of the Georgia Film, Video & Music Office

• This new program offers a base tax credit of 9% with uplifts based on Georgia job creation, expenditures in Tier 1 and 2 counties and for multiple television projects by a single production company.

• The foundation of the Act is a 9% investment tax credit. Production companies that spend a minimum of $500,000 in the state on qualified production and post production expenditures in a single year are eligible for this credit. This includes most materials, services and labor. The 9% credit applies to both residential and out-of-town hires with a salary cap of $500,000 per person per production.

• The Act will award additional tax credits of 3% for all Georgia residents employed by the production. In effect, producers receive a tax credit equal to 12% for all qualified Georgia labor – the base tax credit of 9% plus a bonus of 3% for Georgia hires.

• Learn more: Official Site

More Features:

• Cover Story: Greg Thompson
• Establishing Shot: Fairlie-Poplar
• The Insider's Scoop: Producing

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