The Kodak Building is a historic building in Atlanta, Georgia. Built in midtown Atlanta around 1950, the building originally served as a camera shop, with a large sign on top of the building advertising Kodak considered a local landmark. The building has been vacant for several years, but was recently sold and is scheduled for redevelopment.

History

The building was originally built around 1950 as a camera shop for Star Photo.[1][2] It was built simultaneously to the building next to it, which currently houses the Atlanta Eagle, a gay bar that was the subject of the Atlanta Eagle police raid in 2009.[2] The building was eventually converted to a Kodak shop, and during this time a large advertising sign for the company was added to the top of the building, which remains on the building today.[3][4] In the early 2000s, the building served as the campaign headquarters for Shirley Franklin's team during her campaign to become mayor of Atlanta.[1][2][4]

Around 2009, the Kodak Building and Atlanta Eagle building were foreclosed on.[5] The two buildings were sold in May 2014,[6] with the Atlanta Eagle's lease renewed.[2] As part of the sale agreement, the Kodak sign was to remain on the building.[6] The buildings were sold again in 2016 for approximately $2 million, with plans to convert the Kodak Building into a healthcare center.[1][7]

On November 11, 2020, the Georgia Trust for Historic Preservation listed the "Atlanta Eagle and Kodak Buildings" on its annual list of Places in Peril.[8][9]

References

  1. ^ a b c Green, Josh (October 17, 2016). "Midtown Atlanta's iconic Kodak building will be reborn — finally". Curbed Atlanta. Vox Media. Retrieved August 8, 2020.
  2. ^ a b c d "Atlanta Eagle bar, 'Kodak' buildings on Ponce in Midtown sold". The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Cox Enterprises. May 1, 2014. Retrieved August 8, 2020.
  3. ^ Kelley, Collin (October 18, 2016). "Report: Kodak building to become medical office". Atlanta INtown. Retrieved August 9, 2020.
  4. ^ a b KaronCurbed (April 9, 2020). "Your ultimate guide to Atlanta's most iconic, beloved signs". Curbed Atlanta. Vox Media. Retrieved August 9, 2020.
  5. ^ Archbold, Hunt (April 9, 2012). "Visions for Vacancies: Goody's Kodak Building". Patch. Retrieved August 9, 2020.
  6. ^ a b Kelley, Collin (May 2, 2014). "Kodak, Atlanta Eagle buildings on Ponce have been sold". Atlanta INtown. Retrieved August 9, 2020.
  7. ^ Wenk, Amy; Sams, Douglas (October 17, 2016). "Midtown's landmark Kodak building to be reborn (SLIDESHOW)". Atlanta Business Chronicle. American City Business Journals. Retrieved August 8, 2020.
  8. ^ Kelley, Collin (November 11, 2020). "The Eagle, Kodak Building, and Ashby Street Theatre top Georgia Trust's annual 'Places in Peril' list". Atlanta INtown. Retrieved November 12, 2020.
  9. ^ Catts, Everett (November 11, 2020). "Atlanta's Ashby Street Theatre and Atlanta Eagle and Kodak Buildings named to Places in Peril list". Marietta Daily Journal. Retrieved November 12, 2020.

External links