East Point Historic Civic Block

Various musical performers such as Jerry Reed, Charles Brown and his Rocking at Night Orchestra, the Clovers, Mr. Goggle Eyes, Billy Ford and his Tuneful Band, and the Count Basie Orchestra[4] were among the artists who have performed at the East Point City Auditorium. In the early 1960s, the Georgia Jubilee weekly radio show was broadcast live from the East Point City Auditorium. The house band, the Dixie Playboys hosted artist including The Williams Brothers.[5] In December 1961, Patsy Cline performed for a crowd of three hundred at the City Auditorium.[6] Part of her performance was filmed for the Atlanta television show, the Dixie Jubilee.[7][8][9]

Renovation on the Auditorium began in 1983 and was finished in 1984. Donors to the project had their names inscribed on brass plaques, which were affixed to the backs of the seats.

In 2011, the City Council issued a Request for Proposals (RFP) for “a Multi-Purpose Government Complex” which called for the tearing down of several—if not all—of the existing buildings. One possible approach described in the RFP described the construction of a large, new City Hall complex built around the existing Auditorium while the other called for the demolition of all three historic buildings to make way for the proposed Government Complex.[14][15] A group of concerned citizens contacted the Mayor and questioned the need for the demolition of East Point's historical downtown structures. They wanted to tour the auditorium to see its condition. The Mayor requested a tour on behalf of the citizens. The Mayor's request was turned down by the City Manager who then had the auditorium condemned by the Fire Marshal and Chief Building Official.[16][17]

In 2011, after the citizens' request to tour the buildings was turned down, the group of citizens joined with East Point property owners, business owners, former citizens, and East Point alumni to form the East Point Preservation Alliance (EPPA), and worked towards preserving the historical architecture and character of downtown East Point. Most of the damage to the auditorium had been caused by a leak in the roof which the city had failed to patch or cover. The EPPA brought to light the ongoing demolition by neglect perpetrated by the city for continually neglecting to have the hole covered. It remains uncovered to this day.[18][19] Many citizens showed up in protest at Council meetings where the developers presented their plans for a new government complex with a parking deck. None of the three plans presented preserved all three buildings, and although one plan included the Auditorium, two plans recommended Victory Park to be replaced by a parking deck or a small playground.[20] After increased media and public scrutiny, all the developers pulled out from the projected scheme.[21]

In the lobby of the City Auditorium was a custom display case which held the East Point Centennial Quilt. The Centennial Quilt was made in 1987, as part of the Centennial Celebration of East Point’s founding in 1887. "The East Point Woman’s Club created a quilt illustrating East Point history, historic landmarks and prominent businesses. The quilt features 49 squares that were embroidered or appliquéd by hand by 26 members of the Woman’s Club. EPHS member Mildred Finnell, who was chairman of the Woman’s Club art department at the time, designed many of the squares and oversaw making of the quilt. Finnell said she called on club members to identify personal recollections of East Point history and then transfer those ideas to the individual squares. Club members then spent 1200 hours at quilting bees piecing together and quilting this history of East Point in needlework."[22] But after the City Auditorium had been condemned, the quilt was trapped inside. In November 2011, after continued requests from the EPPA and the East Point Historical Society, the City Council voted to allow the Centennial Quilt to be moved to the East Point Historical Society for safe storage and display.[23]

In February 2012, the EPPA was successful, with the help of City Council and the Mayor, in securing an assessment of the structures. The resulting EEC Building Inspection Report (Edwards Engineering Consultants, LLC) listed the repair costs for all three buildings at $1,451,500.[24][25]

In 2013, after renewed interest by Council in a City Center development, a multi-layered proposal was put forth by East Point City Center Partners, in which two different plans were presented. Both plans proposed the demolition of City Hall, and while one plan called for the relocation of the New Deal Library, it was later found that the library could not be moved due to its foundation. The second plan called for all new construction with the demolition of all three buildings.[26] On May 20, 2013, Council voted 6 to 1 to demolish City Hall, Auditorium, the Customer Care Center, and Fire Station #1 and relocate the library, so that a new Government Center, conference center, parking deck, and performing arts center could be built on the site.[27]

The EPPA continued to advocate for the rescue, renovation and reuse of the Civic Block. Alarmed citizens, upon hearing of the impending plan, joined the EPPA anew.[28] In August 2013, the Sundance Channel pursued the New Deal Library as a location for a TV pilot. The Sundance Channel was going to finance the Library's remediation as a part of the deal. The City and the Channel were not able to finalize the agreement, and the pilot was filmed elsewhere.[29]

The EPPA applied for the East Point Civic Block's inclusion into the Georgia Trust for Historic Preservation's 2014 list of Places in Peril, but did not make the list. Places in Peril is designed to raise awareness about Georgia's significant historic, archaeological and cultural resources, including buildings, structures, districts, archaeological sites and cultural landscapes that are threatened by demolition, neglect, lack of maintenance, inappropriate development or insensitive public policy. Through Places in Peril, the Trust encourages owners and individuals, organizations and communities to employ proven preservation tools, financial resources and partnerships in order to reclaim, restore and revitalize historic properties that are in peril.[30]

The East Point Historic Civic Block was identified by the Georgia Trust for Historic Preservation in its 2015 list of the 10 places in Peril.[31][32][33][34] With its inclusion into the 2015 Places in Peril List, the story of the East Point Civic Block has received nationwide attention.[35][36] [37] The next step in the preservation of the East Point Civic Block is gaining access to the auditorium and library, so that preservation experts can assess and make recommendations. So far, access has not been granted by Council or City Manager.[38]