Northcrest Phase 1 Development

P&H Realty "Sneak Preview" Ad - Atlanta Journal Constitution 1959.06.31

The following information was copied from the HISTORIC DISTRICT INFORMATION FORM (HDIF) developed by the 2016 Georgia State Masters of Heritage Preservation Program involved in the Northcrest Historic District designation documentation.

P&H Realty Ad - Atlanta Journal Constitution

Northcrest History

The Northcrest neighborhood was developed in the late 1950s and was the brainchild of Walter Tally who saw housing potential in the vast farmland existing in Dekalb County after World War II. Tally had successfully developed the Northwoods subdivision in the early 1950s as the state’s first mid-century planned suburban development. He served as President of the Atlanta Homebuilders Association at the time, and would later speak on the economic impacts of homebuilding methods to organizations like the Buckhead Exchange Club. He was soon joined by former car salesman Howard Hardrath and Paul Edwards, who became partners in 1952. Hardrath and Edwards formed P&H Homes, Inc. in the early 1950s, building and designing modern suburban homes for the Drew Valley and Wawonda Forest subdivisions, which are now part of the city of Brookhaven. Together, Tally, Hardrath, and Edwards formed THE, Inc (an acronym for their last names) and began purchasing land within land lots 292 and 293 around 1959. Having worked with him on the Northwoods development nearly a decade earlier, Tally tapped architect Ernest Mastin to design many of the Northcrest subdivision homes. A graduate of the Georgia Institute of Technology’s architecture school, Mastin was familiar with the mid-century modern style and applied this knowledge in his designs, which were then carried out by P&H Home Builders.
While Northcrest began as its own subdivision, the next couple decades would see the development of three other subdivisions in the district--as development gradually shifted from west to east towards Pleasantdale Road. Over time, residents would refer to this entire district as ‘Northcrest’, despite the name originally being applied to the initial subdivision. In 1959, Mechanicsville Road became Northcrest Road and the portion of I-85 due north of the subdivision was completed, with I-285 still under construction just west of the neighborhood (H.8).

H8: I285 still under construction west of the neighborhood

In January 1959, THE, Inc. led by its President, Walter Talley, began platting Northcrest unit 1, consisting of approximately 52 lots along Northcrest Road, Heartwood Lane, Thornewood Drive, Northhaven Lane, and Regalwoods Drive--the initial roads paved within the subdivision (H.9) A cul-de-sac was planned at the northern end of Thornewood Drive. The roads were paved 60’ wide, providing ample space for traffic. Lot sizes were typically 100’ wide and between 180’ and 241’ deep, with covenants restricting them to single-family residential zoning, and prohibiting subdividing. Northcrest’s restrictive covenants also prohibited temporary housing for residential or church use. By September 1959, 25 homes within unit 1 were completed, while another 350 wooded lots were marked for construction as well.

H.9: Northcrest unit 1-- January 1959

Tally was innovative in his design of modern suburban living, and October 1959 saw the construction of 3430 Heartwood Lane, known as the “Project 60” house, or “Research House”, which featured all-gas heating, cooling, and kitchen appliances (H.10). More information on the Home Builders Association "Project 60" House here.

H.10: 3430 Heartwood Lane, known as the “Project 60” house

From the outset, Northcrest was hailed as the “home of leisure living” in the Atlanta Constitution. With Tally at the helm of THE, Inc, P+H served as realtors and builders, promoting their homes’ as ‘contemporary tri-levels’ with ample space and convenient amenities. According to a 2009 interview with Paul Edwards’ son Ray, Edwards focused on the design and construction of homes, while Hardrath was more of the businessman--possibly explaining the numerous development companies he was in charge of throughout the Northcrest’s development. Northcrest homes contained 1,800 square feet of living space, including a 300 square-foot utility area. Buyers could choose between three or four-bedroom homes with a single or double carport. The homes also included 2.5 baths, a den, fireplace, and a GE kitchen. They were priced between $19,750 and $24,500. In its first catalog, P&H construction offered six styles of homes, four mid-century modern designs and two traditional. This served as the initial template for development. THE, Inc’s homes proved successful, and the developers began moving south and east.

H.11: Northcrest unit 2--August 1959

In August 1959, THE, Inc. submitted the plat map for Northcrest unit 2, which saw the extension of Northcrest Road southward, connecting to the southern terminus of Regalwoods Drive (H.11). Homes in unit 2 were completed between 1959 and 1962. THE, Inc. also platted unit 3 in August 1959 (H.12). This unit planned for homes to be centered around the southern portion of Thornewood Drive. It also saw the paving of Northaven Lane. Unit 3 homes were completed between 1959 and 1960.

H.12: Northcrest unit 3--August 1959

The final plat of 1959 was unit 4 (H.13), submitted to the Dekalb County Planning Commission in December of that year. It was the first plat that planned development moving eastward within the current district, and consisted of houses centered along the northern portion of Summitridge Drive. Unit 4’s homes were completed between 1960 and 1963 and galvanized the district’s development east away from Northcrest Road.

H.13: Northcrest unit 4--December 1959

Northcrest’s unit 5 (H.14) was the final plat submitted by THE, Inc. Consisting of homes along the southern half of Regalwoods Drive, it was devised in September 1960, with the homes completed between 1960 and 1966, and several later infills completed between 1973 and 1980. As unit 5’s plat was submitted, the plan for the western third of Northcrest was complete. From then on, various development companies continued platting eastward.

H.14: Northcrest’s unit 5 --September 1960

H.15: Northcrest’s unit 6--January 1960

Unit 6 (H.15) was the first Northcrest section planned by Howard Hardrath’s Peach State Development Company in January 1960. With Watts and Browning still serving as surveyors, unit 6 saw the first portion of homes platted along Eaglerock Drive, running east-west across the district. Unit 6 homes were completed between 1960 and 1965. While not confirmed, Peach State Development Company may have been a subsidiary of P&H Homes, with Hardrath serving as President and business manager, and Edwards heading up the construction process. P&H Homes served as developer for Northcrest Unit 7 (H.16), platted in June 1960. Unit 7 was planned along the remaining portion of Eaglerock Drive, directly east of unit 6, with homes built between 1960 and 1961. Northcrest units 6 and 7 would comprise a significant portion of the district’s northern boundary.

H.16: Northcrest’s unit 7--June 1960

After the platting of unit 7, Northcrest’s development began moving south of Eaglerock Drive towards the center of the current district. Hardrath, now serving as president of Northcrest Acres, Inc (possibly another subsidiary of P&H Home Builders), platted unit 8 (H.17) in February 1960. This section saw the extension of Summitridge Drive and the development of Archwood Lane, as well as the Kim Court cul-de-sac. Houses in unit 8 were mostly completed between 1961 and 1964, with a few homes built between 1966 and 1971.

H.17:Northcrest’s unit 8--February 1960

The year 1961 also saw the return of Walter Tally as developer. While it is not known when he left THE, Inc, he now served as president of Northview Corporation, and submitted the plat for unit 9 (H.18) in August 1961. Unit 9 covers the curvilinear Bowling Green Way in the southwest part of the district, just below the future Northcrest Swim and Tennis Club, which would open in 1962. The west end of Bowling Green Way connects with Regalwoods Drive. Then as it travels eastward, it curves sharply south to what would soon become Beachhill Drive. The homes in unit 9 were completed between 1961 and 1963. Northcrest Unit 10 (H.19) was platted by Hardrath’s Peach State Realty Company in March 1962.

H.18:Northcrest’s unit 9--August 1961

Unit 10 was planned along the remainder of Summitridge Drive south and southwest of Pleasantdale Elementary School, which would open in 1968--and serves as the eastern boundary of the Northcrest subdivision. This section also saw the beginning development of Northlake Drive, Northlake Way, and the initial paving of Lori Lane and Northlake Trail. Unit 10 homes were completed between 1962 and 1964. Directly northwest of unit 10, unit 11 (H.20) was platted by Northlake, Inc. in April 1963. The majority of these homes sat along newly developed streets that included Lori Lane, Northlake Drive, and Northlake Trail in the central part of the district. Houses in unit 11 were completed between 1963 and 1964.

H.19: Northcrest’s unit 10--March 1962

H.20: Northcrest’s unit 11--April 1963

The Peach State Development Company was responsible for platting Northcrest’s final two units. Unit 12 (H.21), submitted to the Dekalb County Planning Commission in January 1965, saw the paving of Beachhill Drive (initially called Aspen Drive) in the southern part of the district. Beachhill intersected with the southernmost part of Archwood Drive. Unit 12 homes were completed by 1968. The plat for unit 13 (H.22) was completed in January 1966, and is the smallest section within the Northcrest subdivision. It consists of a small portion of Archwood Drive--just four lots--the houses of which were completed in 1966. With the final plat in place, the initial subdivision of Northcrest was planned. But development of the current district was far from over.