UGA President's House
Preserving History in Athens
Welcome to the redevelopment of the former University of Georgia President’s House, located at 570 Prince Avenue in Athens, Georgia. This website is dedicated to providing factual and up-to-date information on the project’s progress, ensuring transparency and fostering community engagement throughout the process. We invite you to follow along as we embark on this journey of transformative redevelopment.
Property History
Located at 570 Prince Avenue, the distinguished President’s House serves as a remarkable example of Greek Revival architecture, originally built in 1856 by John Thomas Grant. Its design features a two-story frame, raised basement, central hall plan, and a striking three-sided peristyle supported by Corinthian columns—an elegant showcase of the era’s design principles.
The property changed hands several times: acquired in 1876 by Benjamin Harvey Hill, a prominent U.S. politician, then sold in 1883 to James White, founder of the First National Bank of Athens. It subsequently passed to his daughter and eventually to the Bradley Foundation, which donated it in 1949 to the University of Georgia as the official residence for its presidents.
Since then, the house has undergone restoration and celebrated architectural landscaping, including gardens designed by Hubert B. Owens. Its significance has been officially recognized: it’s listed on the National Register of Historic Places and was documented by the Historic American Buildings Survey
Project
Approach
Preservation, Restoration, and Adaptive Reuse
The historic President’s House will be preserved through a carefully balanced approach that honors its heritage while introducing thoughtful modern upgrades to ensure its continued use and enjoyment. A façade easement will be placed on the exterior, safeguarding its architectural character for future generations. The formal front lawn and gardens will be protected under a conservation easement, with similar protections for the expansive rear gardens to preserve their beauty and integrity. Inside, the main level will remain essentially unchanged aside from light cosmetic work, while the upper and ground levels will undergo only minimal modifications.
Select modernization measures will discreetly enhance functionality and safety. Updated electrical, plumbing, and HVAC systems will improve guest comfort and protect the home’s delicate interior features from fire or deterioration. Original moldings, mantels, chandeliers, and the Zuber wallpaper in the dining room will be preserved in their entirety. To meet fire safety requirements, the existing carriage house and cottage will be relocated to the rear of the property and restored.
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Community and Cultural Integration
The property will serve not only as a preserved landmark but also as a vibrant cultural venue. A curated program of music, art, and performance will be scheduled throughout the year, open to the public and featuring collaborations with the University of Georgia, including student performances. Works by local artists will be showcased across the property, fostering a strong connection with the community. The relocated kitchen/carriage house is envisioned as a living museum, telling the 170-year history of the home and the individuals who shaped the state and nation. The on-site restaurant will also welcome the public on a space-available basis, offering another avenue for community engagement.
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Harmonizing History and New Development
The project’s design will seamlessly integrate the historic home with a new, complementary hotel development. A U-shaped, 108-room structure will be constructed at the rear of the property, designed to mirror the shape and height of the President’s House to ensure visual harmony. This adaptive reuse approach will create an urban oasis in the heart of downtown Athens—one that preserves the site’s distinctive architecture, honors its history, and reintroduces it as a dynamic cultural and hospitality destination for generations to come.
View from Prince Ave. looking at the existing President's house with the hotel addition to the rear.
Project Benefits
The project will create approximately 50 jobs for area residents, offering living wages, health benefits, and retirement plans. It is located within a low-income census tract.
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The site will serve as a living laboratory for education, engaging University of Georgia Hospitality students in internships and hosting musical performances featuring piano, strings, and jazz. It will also promote historical preservation and the arts.
The community will have scheduled access to concerts and the gardens.
The venue will showcase work by local artists.
We will maintain the existing front formal gardens while restoring the back gardens to highlight native Georgia plants. A comprehensive tree study has been completed to assess the health of existing trees. A few large oak trees will be removed, including one damaged by lightning, and the wood will be repurposed for timber, furnishings, and other uses.
Beehives will be added to support pollination and supply honey for the kitchen. A farm-to-table herb and vegetable garden will be re-established in the rear, where the previous vegetable garden once stood.
The existing cottage and carriage house will be relocated to the rear of the site.
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The project will invest over $3 million in addressing deferred maintenance on the historic house, including installation of a new HVAC system and electrical upgrades to reduce the risk of fire.
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It will contribute to increased activation along Prince Avenue by creating lodging within walking distance of Downtown. This will help reduce vehicle traffic and alleviate strain on downtown parking, while generating additional business for neighborhood restaurants and shops.
The development will generate increased tax revenue—property, sales, and occupancy—while requiring little to no additional municipal services, such as schools.
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Partnerships will be established with a nationally recognized foundation specializing in the decorative arts to source appropriate furnishings for the main house. The property’s décor, theme, and programming will be curated to highlight the unique cultural assets of Athens, the University of Georgia, and the state of Georgia.​​
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The project will help address a local shortage of hotel rooms, as identified in a study commissioned by the ACC CVB.
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Located near Piedmont Hospital and the new UGA Medical School, the property will also provide bicycles for guests to explore Athens and its surrounding neighborhoods.
Project Schedule
Planning Commission Public Hearing 1:
Planning Commission Public Hearing 2:
ACC Commission Public Hearing 1:
ACC Commission Public Hearing 2:
Final Design & Planning:
Construction Commencement:
Project Completion:
September 4, 2025
November 6, 2025
​November 18, 2025
December 2, 2025
January 1 - June 30, 2026​
August 1, 2026
October 22, 2027
Who We Are
Capstone CEO Jeff Payne was born and raised in Gainesville, Georgia, where he still resides with his family on Lake Lanier. A lifelong admirer of historic properties, Jeff currently owns a historic home on Milledge Avenue in Athens. His daughter, a rising senior at the University of Georgia, will graduate with a minor in Historic Preservation. Jeff and his family are longtime supporters of the State Botanical Garden of Georgia, where his wife proudly serves on the board.
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The Capstone team is honored to lead the historic preservation and adaptive reuse of the UGA President’s House. With over 30 years of experience, Capstone has developed hotels, medical office buildings, retail centers, multifamily communities, and historic preservation projects. Over the years, we have been entrusted with eight buildings listed on the National Register of Historic Places—properties we regard as a responsibility to preserve for future generations, often repurposing them for continued relevance in today’s world.
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Our commitment to creating a positive community impact is evident in our work. In Gainesville, we have partnered with the City and other stakeholders to reinvigorate downtown. Signature projects include the Courtyard by Marriott, The National apartment tower, and the adaptive reuse of a 35,000-square-foot marble Art Deco building into meeting space and restaurants—each playing a vital role in the district’s revitalization. We are also advancing plans for a new office building and a second downtown hotel.
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Our efforts have been recognized in Georgia Trend magazine and honored with the Georgia Downtown Association’s Award of Excellence in 2024. We have also received the Greater Hall Chamber of Commerce’s Community Service Award. Today, we continue to work with communities across the Southeast, partnering with local governments to enhance neighborhoods through high-quality hospitality and housing developments.
