148 Edgewood Avenue SE

148 Edgewood Avenue SE
Atlanta - Fulton County
c. 1926

Story 

Built in 1926 by the Georgia Railway and Power Company, this substation played a crucial role in powering downtown Atlanta. In 1966, it was acquired by Georgia State University (GSU), which repurposed the building for various uses, including as a workspace for the university’s photography department. The structure is a key part of both the local Martin Luther King, Jr. Landmark District and the national Martin Luther King, Jr. Preservation District, underscoring its historic significance.

Threat 

Despite its self-evident connection to the locality, GSU has proposed demolishing the building to create a surface parking lot. The university, along with the Georgia Board of Regents, asserts sovereign immunity, exempting it from the historic preservation zoning ordinances that would typically protect the site from demolition. With a demolition permit signed by Governor Kemp, GSU continues discussions about the destruction of this contributing building in an already threatened National Register District.

Update
Public Hearing Alert: Help Us Save Atlanta’s 148 Edgewood Avenue
Atlanta’s historic 148 Edgewood Avenue, a 2025 Place in Peril, is threatened with demolition! Georgia State University is proposing to demolish the building to create a greenspace, disregarding its deep ties to the Martin Luther King, Jr. Landmark District—a nationally significant area honoring African American leaders and institutions. Losing this building would be a major blow to the district’s historic integrity, but there’s still time to speak out!
Make your voice heard at Georgia State University’s “College Town Downtown” transformation public hearing:
🗓️ Date: Wednesday, May 28, 2025
🕔 Time: 5:00 PM – 7:00 PM
đź“Ť Location: GSU Centennial Hall, Room 120, 100
Auburn Avenue NE, Atlanta, GA 30303
đź—Ł Public comment can also be emailed to media@gsu.edu
This historic building needs your support—come share your thoughts and stand up for Atlanta’s history. Your presence matters!

Disclaimer: The Georgia Trust does not own nor has any direct involvement with this historic site. The Trust’s involvement is limited to listing it on our Places in Peril list to bring awareness to it.