THE STORY

Thomas K. Glenn, a pillar of Atlanta business in the early 20th Century, built this estate in 1929 on 400 acres of farmland north of Atlanta. Designed by Samuel Inman Cooper, the Tudor Revival mansion required 60 men and a calendar year to complete. The property also included stables, barns, smith and carpentry shops, and housing for workers. Thomas and his wife, Elizabeth lived at Glenridge until his death in 1946. Beginning in the 1980s, T.K. Glenn’s granddaughter and her husband fought to preserve the house and its setting. Glenridge Hall was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1982 and the couple thoroughly restored the home with the dream that it be available for the public to enjoy. The home has hosted many charitable events and retreats over the years and has been used in films such as Driving Miss Daisy and, most recently, The Vampire Diaries.

THE THREAT

Of the original 400 acres, only 76 acres remained as part of the Glenridge property, and was recently sold to upscale home developer, Ashton Woods, which plans to subdivide and develop part of the property and has sold another part to Mercedes Benz. 

The city of Sandy Springs, where Glenridge is located, issued on March 9th, 2015, a demolition permit to Southern Environmental Services, Inc., a Marietta-based environmental construction company that has partnered with Ashton Woods on other bulldozing projects. Demolition crews could begin work anytime between April 1 and Sept. 5.

THE OPPORTUNITY

There are several different financial incentives, including a 20 percent federal tax credit, 25 percent state tax credit, and a property tax freeze, available to rehabilitate historic properties. Glenridge Hall remains in “immaculate condition” due to its past owners’ maintenance. The developer could also convert the manor into a community clubhouse benefiting future homeowners or retrofit the property into condominiums.