A Rose by Any Other Name

It’s often said that preserving history can pave the way for a brighter future. Downtown Atlanta’s latest example is the Queen Anne-style Rufus Rose House, a Victorian home designed by architect E.C. Seiz in 1901, undergoing a major overhaul. “The restoration of this property exhibits that both our culture and history matter. This is the last of its kind in Atlanta, and in downtown,” says David Mitchell, executive director of the Atlanta Preservation Center. “It represents the very ethos of our identity to embrace challenges and show what we have been and continue to be, while focused on growing with a thoughtful appreciation of our story.” The project is being spearheaded by UC Asset, which acquired the house in July, with former U.S. Congressman Kwanza Hall leading the charge as part of the company’s historic landmark program. After years of being unoccupied, the home, which is listed on the National Register of Historic Places (since 1977) and is designated as a Landmark Building Exterior by the City of Atlanta (since 1989), requires extensive work that will be carefully performed in observance of historic standards. “The restoration can be a catalyst for positive change for the local community and a unifying element for the preservation community in general,” says Hall. “The adaptive reuse offers a great opportunity for coworking and events within a historic property that dates back before Prohibition.”