Historic Atlanta mortuary granted landmark status

A 90-year-old mortuary in Midtown Atlanta has been marked safe from future development, allowing concerned preservationists to rest easy.

After months of discus- sions, the city of Atlanta granted H.M. Patterson & Son historical landmark status, Midtown Alliance announced Wednesday. The mortuary — which was listed as one of Atlanta’s most endangered historic places by the Atlanta Preservation Center — is owned by Hous- ton-based Service Corporation International.

Known as Spring Hill Chapel, the business opened in 1928, well before that area was populated by skyscrap- ers or MARTA. Today the white structure sits on a hill with a sprawling lawn and garden on the bustling corner of Spring and 10th streets.

The agreement with the property owner includes protection for the main building, the front lawn and the north garden, Midtown Alliance says. The historical designation protects it against future development and ensures the front of the building and gar- den can be seen from Spring Street. The building’s interior is excluded from protection.

The effort to save the building was not new. In 2000, the executive director of the city’s Urban Design Commission at the time said the funeral home did merit the historic designation of a landmark — but the commission had been too short-staffed to get to it.