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Design Review Board

Level 2: Major alteration of an existing building/structure

2-B-10-DT

This case has been appealed

Staff Recommendation
APPROVE Certificate 2-B-10-DT with the following conditions: 1) The storefront design as determined by the board.Case File
Location
111 E Jackson Ave
Applicant Request
This proposal is for a renovation of the building at 111 East Jackson Ave, which is in the Southern Terminal and Warehouse Historic District.

As part of the renovation of the entire structure, the property owners propose to remodel the front façade. There are three storefront bays. One of the bays has an existing storefront and the other two bays are open with recessed storefronts. The existing storefront on the right side of the building will be removed and replaced with an almost identical storefront which will expand the entrance from one door to two doors. This new storefront design will be copied in the left storefront bay. The middle bay will have a wrought iron gate to secure the recessed storefronts after hours. See the front elevation on sheet A501 of the attached plans.

Additionally, there is detailing proposed that surround the storefronts and create a sign board above the storefronts. This detailing will add columns over portions of the existing pilasters on the first floor. The sign boards over the left and right storefronts will have sconce lighting as shown on the front elevation of the plans on sheet A501. The cornice above the sign boards will have integrated down lights to shine on the wall signs.

The second story windows are proposed to be removed and replaced with new windows that match the mullion pattern and transom operation.

Above the second story windows there will be a cornice added, to be made of wood or fiberglass. A new metal coping will also be added and there will be new conductor heads and downspouts.

The brick will be cleaned, repaired and structurally repaired in areas damaged by water infiltration.

A new skylight will be added toward the middle of the roof, see building section A-A on sheet A501. This skylight will not be visible from the street.
Staff Comments
In National Register Historic Districts, the guidelines refer to the Secretary of Interior's Standards for Rehabilitation for guidance. The third standards states, " Each property will be recognized as a physical record of its time, place, and use. Changes that create a false sense of historical development, such as adding conjectural features or elements from other historic properties, will not be undertaken".

The proposed addition victorian columns to the storefronts changes the historic context of the building. The old city area has a rich history of warehousing, which operated in understated buildings in comparison to victorian structures that were primarily used for shops and restaurants. The warehouse is shorter than a typical victorian structure, because of this when the storefronts are overly emphasized with the victorian detailing it alters the scaling of the building by making the structure look shorter. The original design of the building used the pilasters as vertical elements that rise from the sidewalk to the roofline to give the illusion of height. The proposed design breaks up the vertical elements of the building making the second floor look out of scale with the first floor.
Applicant

Brian Ewers

Planning Staff
Mike Reynolds
Phone: 865-215-3827
Email: mike.reynolds@knoxplanning.org
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Case History