Recommendation
Staff recommends approval of Certificate 3-A-26-DT, subject to the following conditions.1) Meeting all applicable requirements of Article 13 (Signs).2) The LED's in the "VISIT KNOXVILLE" sign shall be consistent with the amber marquee lamps listed on page 3 of the detailed sign design sheets.3) The "VISIT KNOXVILLE" wall sign shall be located on the sign board as shown on the color rendering (Exhibit A).
Applicant Request
Level I - Board Review: New illuminated signsNew illuminated signs
- Removal of the existing scrolling electronic message center (EMC) sign and the installation of one new wall sign on the storefront sign board (Gay Street elevation) and two new hanging signs in the main entrance's recessed opening (facing Gay Street and Summit Hill Road).
- The new "VISIT KNOXVILLE" wall sign consists of 5" deep reverse-lit channel letters with no raceway. The sign is 2'-6" tall by 33'-10" long (84.7 sqft). The channel letters are open-faced, with recessed amber-colored marquee lamps in each letter, creating a glowing effect. There will be a total of 513 marquee lamps.
- The two "information" hanging signs will be hung from the ceiling of the recessed openings of the corner entrance. The signs are each 1' tall by 6' wide (6 sqft), with metal faces, push through letters, and internal illumination.
Property Notes / Work to be Completed
- ZONING STANDARDS: The property is located in the DK-H (Downtown Knoxville, Historic Subdistrict) district but is not within the Gay Street Commercial Historic District, so the sign guidelines for the Grid district will apply. The DK zone requires that all illuminated signs be approved by the Design Review Board. The "information" hanging signs have an opaque background that lets only the internal illumination shine through the letters. This is consistent with similar requests the board has approved. The larger "VISIT KNOXVILLE" wall sign features amber-colored marquee bulbs recessed into each channel letter, giving them a glowing effect. The channel letters do not have a face, so the bulbs will be visible when viewed at a narrow angle across the street or farther away.
- An illuminated wall sign of this size is typically not recommended this low on the building. They are more common near the top of the building. However, low-wattage, amber-colored bulbs will not detract from the pedestrian experience promoted by the guidelines.
- RECOMMENDED SIGNS: The wall sign is mounted flush to the sign board, and each projecting sign is less than 9 sqft, as recommended by the design guidelines.
Applicable Guidelines
Downtown Design Guidelines
See Guidelines- Section 2
- B. THE TRADITIONAL GRID DISTRICT
- 1. RECOMMENDED SIGNS
- These recommendations for signs in the traditional grid district recognize that certain types of signs are more pedestrian-friendly and should be encouraged within the grid district.
- GUIDELINES
- 1a. Wall signs on sign boards that are above a transom or first story and mounted flush to the building façade
- 1b. Projecting signs of modest size (9 square feet, maximum); a larger sign must be approved by the board
- Section 2
Meeting Date
March 18, 2026
Visit Knoxville
301 S. Gay St. 37902
DK-H (Downtown Knoxville, Historic Subdistrict)
Applicant
