across the u.s.mid-century moderngeorgia
Northcrest, Atlanta
Northcrest is a mid-century subdivision in unincorporated DeKalb County, just outside I-285 southeast of Doraville, built from 1959 to 1975 and listed on the National Register in 2017. Split-levels are the most common type, alongside ranches, A-frame split-levels and two-stories, in styles from Contemporary, Eichleresque and Wright-influenced to Colonial Revival, set on hilly lots along curving streets. The listing brings no county design review, and none of the sources gives a reliable total house count.
The housesThe rulesBefore you buy
- built1959–1975period of significance
- sizeabout 396 acresfour subdivisions
- listed2017National Register district
- house types5split-level most common
the houses
What makes them distinctive
- Four subdivisionsThe district joins Northcrest, the largest and earliest, with Hidden Acres, Concord Manor and Northcrest East, built between 1959 and 1975.
- Split-level heavyThe civic association lists five house types (split-level, ranch, A-frame split-level, traditional two-story and split foyer) and calls the split-levels perhaps the largest single collection of the type in Georgia.
- Mixed stylesStyles named for the district include Contemporary, Eichleresque and Wright-influenced designs alongside plain and Colonial Revival houses.
- Architect and buildersThe Atlanta Journal-Constitution names Georgia Tech graduate Ernest Mastin, whose work drew on California contemporary design, as architect and THE, Inc. as developer; the National Park Service record also lists P&H.
- Built for the carWide curving streets follow the hilly terrain, with few entry points and few sidewalks.
- Planned amenitiesThe plan included an apartment complex, a park and a swim and tennis club, and the clubhouse counts as a contributing building.
protection
Designation and the rules
- National Register onlyNational Register listing alone doesn’t restrict private owners using private funds.
- No county reviewDeKalb County lists only Druid Hills and Soapstone Ridge as local historic districts, where a certificate of appropriateness is required for exterior work; Northcrest isn’t among them.
- State income tax creditGeorgia’s credit equals 25% of qualifying rehabilitation costs, capped at $100,000 for a principal residence, for houses listed in or eligible for the Register as part of a district, when the work meets state standards.
- Property tax freezeGeorgia’s preferential assessment program can freeze the county property tax assessment for about eight and a half years when a certified rehabilitation raises the building’s value enough.
before you buy
What to check before you buy
- Confirm jurisdiction2017 reports place Northcrest in unincorporated DeKalb County; confirm whether a parcel is still unincorporated or inside a city, which settles who handles permits.
- Check district statusTax incentives depend on the district listing, so confirm with the Georgia Historic Preservation Division how a house is classed before planning work.
- Slopes and lower levelsWith hilly lots and split-levels the most common type, have grading, drainage and lower-level foundations inspected closely.
- Roofs and heatingIn nearby Northwoods, Tally-era modern models had flat roofs with no attics and radiant floor heat; a Northcrest house with a low-slope roof or in-floor heat calls for a specialist inspection.
- Original vs. alteredFive house types and several styles mean floor plans vary widely; permit history for additions and finished lower levels helps separate original construction from later work.
Sources disagree on the listing year (2017 or 2016), on when building ended (1975 or the late 1970s) and on which firm led development, and the full nomination couldn’t be opened, so no house count is given.
sources
Where this comes from
Checked October 20, 2026.
- National Park Service: Northcrest Historic District (2017)Period, architects and builders, boundaries, style.npgallery.nps.gov/AssetDetail/3bc5e8f9-8a9c-4123-896c-766fa4525c62
- Atlanta Journal-Constitution: Northcrest listed as a historic place (2017)Location, subdivisions, street layout.www.ajc.com/news/local/northcrest-historic-district-listed-historic-place/c6kwkD1O7q5NqqBAKDBEHK/
- Atlanta Journal-Constitution: midcentury DeKalb area now a national historic place (2017)Developer and architect.www.ajc.com/news/local/funky-midcentury-dekalb-area-now-national-historic-place/BuNkUjQIhXeKoDauKepA3L/
- Northcrest Civic Association: historic sign fundraiser pageAcreage, house types, styles.www.gofundme.com/f/northcrest-historic-sign-toppers
- DeKalb History Center: Contemporary Living, Northwoods (2022)Walter Tally, Northwoods features.dekalbhistory.org/blog-posts/contemporary-living-northwoods/
- DeKalb County: Historic PreservationLocal districts and certificates of appropriateness.dekalbcountyga.gov/departments/planning-and-sustainability/historic-preservation
- Georgia DCA: State income tax credit for rehabilitated historic propertyCredit, cap, eligibility.dca.georgia.gov/node/13161
- Georgia DCA: Preferential property tax assessmentAssessment freeze.dca.georgia.gov/node/13091
- National Park Service: National Register FAQNational Register listing places no restrictions on what a non-federal owner may do with their property.www.nps.gov/subjects/nationalregister/faqs.htm
questions
Questions we hear
Does National Register listing limit changes to a Northcrest house?
Listing alone places no restrictions on a private owner using private funds, and DeKalb County’s design-review districts don’t include Northcrest.
Who built Northcrest?
Sources credit P&H Realty and THE, Inc., with architect Ernest Mastin, and the DeKalb History Center says Walter Tally developed Northcrest after nearby Northwoods; the accounts differ on which firm led.
Can Northcrest houses qualify for Georgia historic tax incentives?
Houses that count toward the listed district can qualify for a 25% state income tax credit, capped at $100,000 for a principal residence, and a property tax assessment freeze, both after a state-certified rehabilitation.
more to learn
Keep going
- Mid-century modern across the U.S.Every guide in the series, coast to coast.
- Mid-century modern homes in Silicon ValleyThe style at home: where it is, what to look for.
- Silicon Valley Eichler tractsEvery Silicon Valley Eichler tract we cover, with live listings.
- Builder FilesThe builders and architects behind Bay Area homes.
General information from the sources listed, checked October 20, 2026; not legal, preservation or construction advice. Confirm designation and permit rules with the local preservation office before you buy or remodel. The Boyenga Team represents buyers and sellers in Santa Clara County, bay-side San Mateo County and San Francisco.
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