The Invest Atlanta Board approved $400,000 in Tax Allocation District (TAD) Grants to support The Atlanta Preservation Center’s work on two historic and culturally significant restoration projects in Downtown Atlanta.

A $200,000 Westside TAD Downtown Façade Improvement Grant will finance the preservation of the Muses Lofts and adjacent retail buildings. Restoration will include seven storefronts along Peachtree Street between Walton and Poplar Streets, preserving their historic character, preparing vacant units for occupancy and enhancing units already occupied by small businesses. Two of the vacant storefronts have historical significance and will receive additional restoration, including 66 Peachtree – the site of The Crystal Palace flagship barber shop owned and operated by notable Black businessman Alonzo Herndon – and 50 Peachtree, the flagship department store of the George Muse Clothing Company.

In addition, a $200,000 Eastside TAD Downtown Façade Improvement Grant will finance façade preservation work on the historic Odd Fellows Building and Auditorium on Auburn Avenue. The Atlanta Preservation Center is partnering with Georgia Works, Inc., to preserve and restore the façade of this architecturally significant structure, which is listed on the National Register of Historic places. This work will complete the exterior restoration of the building after Georgia Works acquired and renovated the building for transitional housing and workforce programs supporting formerly homeless men.