: Walnut Street Garage
12-B-13-DT
Approve Subject To Conditions
APPROVE Certificate 12-B-13-DT subject to the following conditions: 1) For the Summer Place retail location, the floor height must be the same as the sidewalk at the door location. Minor alterations to the façade are allowed to accommodate the floor height change , 2) Install signage or safety devices warning drivers and pedestrians of exiting vehicles, as approved by Engineering, and 3) Install bike racks in close proximity to the retail use(s).
Recommendation
APPROVE Certificate 12-B-13-DT subject to the following conditions: 1) Relocate the Summer Place retail to either the corner of Locust Street or Walnut Street, 2) Install a combination of signage and audible/visible warnings at the Walnut Street exits to warn drivers of the threat of hitting pedestrians and to warn pedestrians of exiting vehicles, and 3) Install bike racks in close proximity to the retail use(s).Applicant Request
:- Construct a new 10 story, 1065 space parking garage with approximately 1100 square feet of street level retail along Summer Place and a three story, 4100 square feet of commercial space along Locust Street.
- Site plan (Sheet SP 1.1 and C.2) - The property has three road frontages: Walnut Street, Summer Place and Locust Street. There are four access points to the garage: two on Walnut Street and two on Locust Street. Each access point has one entry lane and one exit lane. There is pedestrian sidewalk access provided at all four vehicular access points and three additional onto the Summer Place sidewalk. A pedestrian bridge will connect the second story of garage with the plaza level of the Langley Building, over Summer Place near the Locust Street intersection. The stair/elevator towers are at the street intersection corners of the structure. The garage will not encroach into the 5-foot front setback to allow for wider sidewalks and more space for streetscape amenities such as landscaping, furniture, bike racks and on-street parking. The first level of the garage is considered enclosed so ventilation is provided through grated airways in the Walnut Street and Summer Place sidewalk.
- Exterior materials - The concrete construction will have tinted, textured precast walls and decorative inlayed brick. The precast color will be similar to the adjacent Market Square Garage. The field brick will match the existing landscaping walls of the Langley Building (see attached images), complimented by tan accent inlay. The south wall, facing the Daylight Building, is a fire wall without openings as required by building/fire code. The retail and commercial components are accented with flat metal panels that will be white. The storefronts will have metal framing and clear glass. The openings in the stair/elevator towers will not have glass. The pedestrian bridge will be powder coated, prefab metal with a standing seam aluminum roof.
- Lighting - Decorative exterior lighting is provided at the top level with LED fixtures providing a starburst accent which will contribute the skyline. Masonry columns facing public streets are up lit with fluorescent columns which have a downward component to provide lighting at the public zone. Cut Sheets for this lighting are attached for reference. City of Knoxville required street lighting is also provided. The interior of the building is provided with fluorescent lighting for safety and energy efficiency. The perimeter zones of the parking floor plates stay on during night time at 30%
- power. Each zone is further controlled by sensors which power the lights up to 100% when motion is detected. Lighting in the stairwells is provided at all times for safety.
Property Notes / Work to be Completed
- At the August 21, 2013 board meeting, the demolition of the Liberty Building was reviewed and the board recommended to the City to protect the healthy trees, with guidance and oversight by the City's Urban Forester. The site plan for the new parking garage does not keep any of the ten (10) existing trees but does plant eight (8) new shade trees. Not all of the ten existing trees were healthy and anticipated to be saved.
- The applicable guidelines for this project involve most of Section 1.A - Public Realm, including A.1 (Pedestrian and Bicyclist Safety), A.2 (Resident and Visitor Orientation), A.3 (Parking Facilities) and A.4 (Downtown Beautification). Listed below are select guidelines of most concern.
- Pedestrian and bicyclist safety.
- 1d. Widen sidewalks to accommodate streets and amenities with a minimum 5-foot clear pedestrian passage. NOTE: This project will widen the sidewalks.
- 1e. Consolidate curb-cuts and locate driveways near mid-block, when necessary; alley access should be provided for service and parking, if feasible. NOTE: There are currently two curb cuts on Locust Street generally near the proposed garage access points, and one curb cut on Summer Place approximately mid block that is to be removed.
- Parking facilities.
- 3a. Create parking garages that do not contain black walls. Allow for future commercial uses that may not be feasible at the time of construction. NOTE: Commercial space is incorporated.
- 3b. Locate parking garages under structures, or provide for retail, residential or office uses that line the garage. Corner locations are preferable for commercial uses. NOTE: The retail use is not located at a corner.
- Downtown beautification.
- 4a. Foster downtown beautification with landscaping and plantings, public art, and public open space. NOTE: Landscaping and planting areas will be incorporated.
- 4c. Plant street trees where possible. . . NOTE: Street trees will be incorporated.
Meeting Date
December 18, 2013
Walnut Street Garage
400 Locust St
Applicant
Andy Powers
Owner Scottie Epperson
