Peters House
Ivy Hall, the home of Edward Peters, was designed by prominent Atlanta architect Gottfried Norrman. Constructed in 1883, the Peters House may be the first house in Georgia to fully embody the new Queen Anne style. The house occupies a full city block which contributes to the historic significance of the site. The setting dates from the 19th century and is possibly Atlanta’s oldest surviving landscape design; the original carriage house made this Atlanta’s most complete representation of 19th century domestic architecture. The architectural ornamentation of the interior is exceptional and shows the characteristic interest of Atlantans in the usage of ornament in their homes. The importance of the Peters House Complex has been recognized by its listing on the National Register of Historic Places and local designation by the City of Atlanta as a Landmark Building.
Much of the 400-acre tract owned by the Peters family was developed residentially in what is now know as the Midtown neighborhood. They also donated 200 acres for Georgia Tech’s campus and the site of All Saints Episcopal Church. Edward Peters was involved in many civic issues, including serving on the Atlanta City Council.
In 2000 owners Bill Dunaway and Bill Swearingen announced plans for development of the property for more than 160 condominium units. Approval of the project was denied by the Atlanta Urban Design Commission. The owners challenged the decision with major threat to Atlanta’s Preservation Ordinance. The court decision made possible a window of opportunity during which the historic carriage house was demolished. A fire of mysterious origin resulted in minimal damage to the house. Despite these losses, the house remained nationally important.
After significant preservation efforts, the parcel for this historic home was divided and the south side of the block was developed into apartments, currently called Ivy Hall Apartments. The house is now owned by the Savannah College of Art and Design and is used for its creative writing center and for special events.