The Rufus M. Rose House, one of the last surviving unrenovated Victorian mansions on Peachtree Street, is seeking a new steward with the vision and commitment to preserve an irreplaceable piece of Atlanta history.

Located at 537 Peachtree Street in Atlanta’s SoNo district, the property is currently listed for sale for $2.58 million. The late Victorian/Queen Anne-style house was built in 1901 - almost 20 years before cars became commonplace on Peachtree Street – for Dr. Rufus Mathewson Rose, a prominent Atlanta physician, entrepreneur, distiller and real estate investor.

The house was designed by noted Atlanta architect Emil Charles Seiz, responsible for much of Atlanta’s post-war grandeur in the late 1800s and early 1900s. He’s credited with more than 1,000 structures, including the Robert Fulton Hotel (later Georgia Hotel, demolished in 1971 to make way for a parking deck), the Red Rock Building (developed by Massell Realty Co. for warehousing and converted to lofts in 1996), the Chrysler Motor Parts Building (at 1150 Murphy Avenue SW in Oakland City, a site now owned by the Atlanta Beltline, Inc., The Jefferson Hotel (at Alabama and Pryor, destroyed by a fire in 1980), and many apartment buildings.

The 537 Peachtree Street property was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1977 and designated an Atlanta Landmark Building in 1989. Over the past few years, the current owner has invested more than a quarter million dollars restoring the home’s structure by replacing significant portions of the wooden framing that had nearly 130 years of wear and tear.

“This is a rare opportunity to own a piece of Atlanta history and become the steward of one of Peachtree Street’s most extraordinary survivors,” said Felicia Moore, former Atlanta City Council president and the listing agent. “The right buyer will see not only the beauty and significance of the Rufus M. Rose House, but also its potential to serve Atlanta again – as a place where people gather, celebrate, advance important causes and build community.”

The red-brick mansion retains original windows, moldings, woodwork and other character-defining features. Its asymmetrical façade, projecting bays, varied window forms, prominent gables, fireplaces, central hall and hand-carved interior details offer a remarkable foundation for a thoughtful restoration and adaptive-reuse project.

For a civic-minded individual, family, foundation or organization, the property offers a compelling sense of place: it could be a distinguished setting for charitable galas, cultural events, private dinners, community gatherings and philanthropic hospitality. Its National Register status may also provide access to qualifying state and federal historic rehabilitation incentives.

The mansion stands directly on Peachtree Street, within blocks of the Fox Theatre, Emory University Hospital Midtown, Bank of America Plaza at 600 Peachtree and the Shakespeare Tavern Playhouse. It’s also located near the Stitch, the new park currently in planning by Central Atlanta Progress that will cover the interstate downtown, creating a strong connection from downtown to Midtown, and reviving historic streets. 

The Rose family occupied the home until the early 1920s. Beginning in 1945, it became J.H. Elliot’s Antiques and the Atlanta Museum, an eclectic public collection that included objects associated with author Margaret Mitchell, golfer Bobby Jones and other notable Atlanta figures. The house later served as the headquarters of the Atlanta Preservation Center. 

The home currently is unoccupied and ready for renovation. The house no longer fits in the current owners’ real estate portfolio, so the group is motivated to sell. The owners are offering seller financing of up to 80 percent for up to 20 years with better-than-market terms. The home also qualifies for federal and state historic tax credits.

Moore added, “In 10 years, as Midtown and downtown Atlanta complete their evolution and the Stitch knits this area back together, many people will regret not taking the opportunity to buy this historic piece of Atlanta now.”