Download as PDF

Design Review Board

Level 1: Minor alteration of an existing building/structure

2-A-19-DT

Replace existing round-arched canvased frame awning over east side entry door located on Walnut Street with a bronze-anodized aluminum flat-roofed straight-edged awning with 3 powder-coated tie-backs. Size will be approximately 10'-6" wide and project 4'-0" from the building. The awning will be mounted above the brick arch, so that the entire brick arch will be visible underneath the awning. The outside front edge of the awning will be approximately 3'-0" from the back edge of the sidewalk.

The canopy will cover the arched doorway entirely but will be offset to the left. The canopy will overhang the brick arch a couple inches on the right side of the doorway and on the left side it will be just to the left edge of the small existing wall sign next t othe door.

The canopy will have a clearance of 9'-10" with the concrete pad in front of the doorway, and will have a 9' clearance at the lowest point over the stairs descenting from the sidewalk.

The canopy will be supported with metal tie rods that attach to the brick façade above the canopy and below the windows of the floor above. The metal plates (escutcheon) shown in the image for the tie rods are not proposed.

Location
510 W Main St
Applicant Request
Replace existing round-arched canvased frame awning over east side entry door located on Walnut Street with a bronze-anodized aluminum flat-roofed straight-edged awning with 3 powder-coated tie-backs. Size will be approximately 10'-6" wide and project 4'-0" from the building. The awning will be mounted above the brick arch, so that the entire brick arch will be visible underneath the awning. The outside front edge of the awning will be approximately 3'-0" from the back edge of the sidewalk.

The canopy will cover the arched doorway entirely but will be offset to the left. The canopy will overhang the brick arch a couple inches on the right side of the doorway and on the left side it will be just to the left edge of the small existing wall sign next t othe door.

The canopy will have a clearance of 9'-10" with the concrete pad in front of the doorway, and will have a 9' clearance at the lowest point over the stairs descenting from the sidewalk.

The canopy will be supported with metal tie rods that attach to the brick façade above the canopy and below the windows of the floor above. The metal plates (escutcheon) shown in the image for the tie rods are not proposed.
Staff Comments
First Baptist Church is listed on the National Register of Historic Places so the Historic Resources section of the guidelines apply. The guidelines recommend that awnings be of a traditional shape and material, and that the overall size, shape, and projection form the building must be in property proportion and scale to the building and contained within the window or door they shelter, and not cover adjacent wall surfaces. It also states that canvas is usually the appropriate material for awnings.

The guidelines for awnings appear to be developed for storefronts, which would be the typical application. Churches didn't typically have awnings, or traditional awnings as described by the guidelines. The existing rounded, fabric awning does not appear appropriate for building and the proposed metal canopy is more appropriate because it will not cover the architectural details of the building.

The existing awning has a diameter of approximately 6'-7" and projects approximately 3'-4" from the building. The proposed canopy will be approximately 4' wider than the existing awning and will be installed so there is more overhang on the left side of the doorway than on the right. This is because of the retaining wall to the right and the desire to cover the existing sign on the building to the left of the doorway which is associated with the entry.

Applicable guidelines:

Section 1.C.8. (AWNINGS)
Awnings are allowed on historic buildings when they are appropriate to the building and are designed with traditional shapes, forms, and materials. If awnings are used, their overall size, shape, and projection from the building must be in proper proportion and scale to the building and contained within the window or door they shelter, and not cover adjacent wall surfaces. Canvas is usually the appropriate material for awnings.
GUIDELINES:
8a. Allow awnings in traditional shapes and materials.
Applicant

Nunley

Planning Staff
Mike Reynolds
Phone: 865-215-3827
Email: mike.reynolds@knoxplanning.org
Submit CommentsView Comments

Case History