Historic building on Ponce de Leon in Midtown Atlanta catches fire again

ATLANTA - Fire investigators are looking into the cause of another fire at the Kodak building on Ponce De Leon Avenue in Midtown. 

One was reported in the building in July 2023, and just last month, the historic Atlanta Eagle building next door caught fire. 

Firefighters arrived at around 8 a.m. Thursday. Atlanta Fire Rescue says no injuries were reported, and a heavy fire was reported in the back of the building.

"I think initially when I heard about the fire, I was extremely upset just because this is a historic building. [It] means a lot to me and the camera community, just the Kodak sign is legendary for Atlanta," said David Altman, owner of Atlanta Worldwide, a gallery that features art, cameras and more. "To have something like still here and this historic building, it means a lot to us, and we want it restored. We want it saved and, you know, I'd love to have another camera shop here, you know, Kodak to take it over."

Richard Ramey, owner of Atlanta Eagle, which is now located on Piedmont Avenue, says he rushed to the area of their old location on Ponce De Leon Avenue on Thursday. The historic location was damaged by a fire in June.

"That was, you know, really a sad night for us with the Atlanta Eagle family," said Ramey. "But this was our original location and the first building that has been landmarked for the gay community."

Atlanta Fire Rescue says it appears Thursday's fire did not impact the Atlanta Eagle building next door.

"It is really heartbreaking that these fires are happening in these historic buildings in our city. We have these beautiful old buildings and I think it's important for the city and the owners to step up and maintain them, and appreciate what we have and just not let it stay boarded up for years," said Altman.

FOX 5 Atlanta has reached out to Atlanta Fire Rescue to learn about the cause of the fire.

Atlanta Eagle and Kodak Buildings in Atlanta: A brief history

The building that housed the Atlanta Eagle until November 2020 dates back to 1989. The neighboring Kodak Building dates to 1905. Both were part of an expansive residential property but were later converted to commercial use by the 1950s. The Atlanta Eagle property had a one-story brick facade added at 603 Ponce De Leon Avenue in the 1960s.

It went on to become one of the most iconic landmarks in Atlanta's LGBTQ community. The Atlanta Eagle was opened in the summer of 1988, taking over the space occupied by Renegades, Atlanta's first true gay bar, which opened a year earlier.

The site would become notorious in 2009 following a controversial police raid by the now defunct APD "Red Dog Unit," a SWAT-like unit typically targeting high-drug trafficking areas. Although none of the 62 patrons were arrested, eight employees were charged. Most had their charges dropped or were found not guilty. The raid eventually led to lawsuits and the dismantling of the APD specialized unit. Many in the LGBTQ community drew comparisons at the time to the 1969 Stonewall Inn police raid, which led to a riot in New York.

The Kodak Building, initially constructed as an Italian Renaissance house, underwent commercial alterations in the 1940s with the opening of Star Photo. The building holds historical significance due to its association with the rise of commercial amateur photography in the mid-20th century, and it served as the campaign headquarters for Shirley Franklin, Atlanta's first female mayor. A big Kodak sign continues to hold vigil over the vacant location.

Preservation efforts, such as ones by The Georgia Trust, have been ongoing for several years, but volunteers note their continued vacancy as one of the biggest hurdles.

The Atlanta Eagle would reopen two years later at a different location at Ansley Square shopping center on Piedmont Avenue.