Decatur’s Illusive WEST Courthouse Square
Decatur Metro | September 16, 2010Did you know that there used to be a line of one/two story commercial retail along the western side of the Old DeKalb Courthouse that sat across from and looked quite similar to the row of buildings currently standing along EAST Courthouse Square (think Brick Store, Sweet Melissa’s, Squash Blossom).
“But wait!”, you exclaim to your monitor, startling the dog at your feet, “isn’t that where that glass, DeVry, better known as the “Birds From Hell” building is?!”
“Yes.” is my reply.
Once upon a time, prior to the early smart growth efforts of the 1980s, but after the Old DeKalb Courthouse was saved from the cry for more parking spaces, the City of Decatur – not a developer – tore down all the old commercial along West Courthouse Square and said to the development world, “Please build a 20-story indoor shopping mall on this property!” (Seriously, that’s pretty much what they had planned for the site, if my memory serves me.)
After years of no one taking the bait, in the late 1970s, the city FINALLY secured a developer to build the Old Courthouse bell-blocker that we know and mock today. (The “Birds From Hell” didn’t come until later.)
“Where the hell is he going with this?” you ask the dog, now starring up at you with a look of vague amusement and confusion.
Ah, well our good friend at Next Stop…Decatur has unearthed a rare photo of that strip along West Courthouse Square near the intersection with Ponce de Leon Avenue, and you must see it! If for no other reason than to think to yourself, “How the heck was there ever a road there?”
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well, considering it was a “square” and the whole idea of that design was to go around it with roads, (which are now blocked by MARTA now, btw) i guess that was how a road was there. What a horrible replacement with the birds from hell building. Wouldn’t it be cool if those buildings still existed– I know they would be incredible businesses right now (all exposed refurbished brick) if the current Decatur model had been in place way back then …you do know that a thriving African American business district on the old square was killed by the MARTA construction and the construction of public housing. Hindsight is devastating.
Correction: public housing construction/demolition of old businesses and housing was first, then MARTA
You could also include the new courthouse complex. This replaced several old buildings, including the original Masonic Hall, a fine looking, two-story brick building from the late 1800s. I believe there was a drug store on the street level that was quite popular with DHS students during the 50s and 60s. The soda fountain was the place to be after school (at least until Sam’s Sandwich Shop opened).
Has anyone ever wondered why there are quite a few photos of businesses on east court Square but hardly anything from the opposite side? I remember the north, east, and south court areas as the hot spots for commercial activities in the 50s and 60s but not the west court.
Don’t be too hard on the present west court structure. My guess is that, over the past twenty years, the businesses that have existed in this building, and other “dumb growth” complexes (like the office buildings on Ponce and Clairemont) have contributed more in tax revenue and high paying jobs than all the “smart growth” chi-chi shops and bars around town today.
I think that Decatur has just the right amount of old and new structures among its commercial establishments. Isn’t diversity a good thing?
The West Court Square building is a relic from the early 1970s and a product of urban renewal funding that took out a large swath of downtown Decatur west of the square. So it’s been there close to 40 years. Chris is correct that the existing county courthouse complex also replaced a block of early 20th century buildings that were included in the urban renewal demolition.
Why is it called the Birds from Hell building?
You haven’t noticed the fake bird noises coming from the building? Have for years….
Because of the predatory/birds-in-distress bird call recordings that play non-stop throughout the day from the roof to keep birds from smacking into the all-glass facade.
And because it doesn’t really have a name.