ATLANTA — The future of a historic Atlanta area is at stake, according to a new designation.
Northeast Atlanta's Sweet Auburn district was named one of the country's most endangered historic areas Wednesday, but city leaders said it isn't all bad news.
"Atlanta's Sweet Auburn neighborhood is being named to the National Trust's 2012 list of the 11 most endangered places," said David Brown, of the National Trust for Historic Preservation.
At one time, the area was the center of the nation's Civil Rights Movement but saw a decline in the 1980s. Sweet Auburn first made the endangered list in 1992. And while residential properties on Auburn Avenue have seen a turnaround in recent years, the commercial spaces have largely remained untouched.
Some believe making the list will help the area.
"We've lost many of our historic buildings. That's unfortunate, but good news is they recognize that what is left is worth saving," said Mtamianika Youngblood, of the Historic District Development Corp.
Chef Sonya, of the Sweet Auburn Bread Company, has been building her baking business in the district for seven years. She said business has been up and down.
"Right now, it's really sparse. I don't have neighbors on one side across the street, down the street. You need more business to bring more people," she said.
The National Trust for Historic Preservation said it will be luring developers that work with historic properties to Atlanta. Business owners said they welcome that.
WSBTV
