The Georgia State Office Building Authority has filed its first applications with the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development for federal assistance in acquiring open space land. The proposed acquisition is the entire city block in downtown Atlanta bounded by Hunter, Mitchell and Washington Streets and Central Avenue with the exception of the sites of the Shrine of the Immaculate Conception and the Central Presbyterian Church -- two historic Atlanta landmarks.

The Authority estimates that the cost of acquiring the 2.4 acre site will be $1,510,080 and anticipates receiving a federal grant of $755,040, or 50% of the total cost, under the Open Space Land Program which makes federal funds available for the purchase of land for park and recreation, for conservation, and for scenic and historic purposes.

Once the land is acquired, the Authority, in cooperation with the city of Atlanta and Fulton County, will develop the land primarily as a downtown park with a sub-surface parking garage. While no specific design is now proposed for the park, it is anticipated that it will contain an assembly area with a small amphitheater, a quiet park area and a court area; it will also provide space for a tourist information center and perhaps a restaurant and the sub-surface parking garage will have capacity for over 500 automobiles. It will be designed to serve the needs of the state, the city and the county, the two churches and the general public which increasingly visits the area to transact business and for sightseeing.

The idea of a park or plaza on this site has been proposed since 1930 when the Atlanta City Hall was permanently located to the south immediately across Mitchell Street and became the third major government office building facing the block.