Kappa Alpha Fraternity’s purchase of land adjacent to the historic African American Reese Street neighborhood near downtown and the University of Georgia in Athens, Georgia precipitated a fierce debate on racism, disenfranchisement, zoning, local historic district designation, and studentification—the displacement of a historic group of residents with college students. The post-emancipation neighborhood had been an educational and cultural center and home to several important leaders in the Black community but had witnessed an influx of investors and students since the 1990s. The only land use tool available to counteract the influence of the Kappa Alpha fraternity was local historic district designation, which would prevent demolitions and ensure that historic buildings retained their integrity. While that saved the remaining built environment, it did not stem studentification which continues to change the character of the neighborhood, and only a small minority of African American residents remain. This paper will examine both the failure and success of local historic district designation in preserving the neighborhood as well as the factors affecting that outcome.