If you’ve ever exited the Connector at John Lewis Freedom Parkway, headed east into Old Fourth Ward, you’ve probably noticed the aluminum-clad, five-story landmark on the right that was a pioneer of a modern residential architecture on the eastside when it finished construction a quarter-century ago.

A worried reader recently noticed demolition work at the 442 Cain Street property and reached out with concerns “that very cool house [with] the best view in Atlanta” has been reduced to bulldozer bait.

Good news for O4W architecture and history enthusiasts: the contemporary fortress, considered an icon among Atlanta homes, isn’t going anywhere.

Quick history: The Cain Street property began life as a much smaller brick building that housed a bakery, which sold in the mid-1990s for just $77,000. It underwent a dramatic transformation and expansion, as designed by Atlanta-based The K.I.A. Group, back in 1998.

That design included four bedrooms, four and 1/2 bathrooms, a whopping 10,500 square feet, 10 parking spaces, towering windows, and skyline sunset views that qualify as insane.

Bull Realty

Attempts to court homebuyers began in 2014, when the home appeared on the market for $3.5 million but didn’t sell.

It reemerged two years later—zoned commercial in hopes of attracting a restaurant, studio offices, event space, or even a mid-rise new hotel or condo stack—priced at a cool $5 million.

The .12-acre property came back to market four years ago and eventually sold in the summer of 2021 for $3.57 million, according to Fulton County property records.  

Bull Realty

Bull Realty

A relative of the original owner tells Urbanize Atlanta the building will remain intact, though the new owner is repurposing the place.

The eastern side of the building was removed to install an elevator and staircase that’s required for the building’s next life, we’re told.

Bull Realty

Listing photo showing the recognizable 442 Cain Street home's west facade before recent alterations. Bull Realty

We’re working to find more details (and images) regarding what that purpose will entail, and we’ll put together an update should that materialize. Whatever the case, it’s certain the new occupants won’t be wanting for space—and urban sunset views.

Find a closer look at the striking property, as it stood before, over here. 

• Old Fourth Ward news, discussion (Urbanize Atlanta)