Concordia Hall Now

You’ve probably seen the red brick building with the massive alligator mural at the end of historic Hotel Row here in South Downtown.⁠
⁠
But…⁠
⁠
Have you ever noticed the terracotta arch, lyre, and flowers just above the gator’s chin?⁠
⁠
Well, those architectural features have loomed above Forsyth Street for 132 years. And there’s an interesting story behind them...⁠
⁠
In 1867, the Concordia Association was established in Atlanta as a social club catering to Jews of German descent.⁠
⁠
In 1892, the association commissioned the design of a new Concordia Hall which would be located at the intersection of Mitchell & Forsyth Streets.⁠
⁠
The design featured an elaborate high Victorian facade with gabled roofs, arched windows adorned with pediments, decorative parapet cornices, and an "onion dome" turret (the turret was later removed).⁠
⁠
The association’s new home served as a venue for community events, including fundraisers for the Hebrew Orphans Home, Purim balls, and concerts. At street level, local businesses operated out of five bays fronting Mitchell Street.⁠
⁠
On the building’s Forsyth Street facade, you can still see a circular window framed within a short Italianate arch above the doorway. There’s also a lyre, a symbol deeply meaningful to the organization that functioned as a sort of logo. ⁠
⁠
In 1904, the Concordia Association underwent a transformation. They reemerged as The Standard Club and eventually moved out of their home in South Downtown. The organization still exists today as @thestandardclub1867.⁠
⁠
Though a fire devastated Hotel Row in 1908, the Concordia building miraculously survived. At 132 years old, it's one of the oldest buildings still standing on Mitchell Street.