5-A-23-HZ

Level II: Fourth And Gill H

Approved With Conditions

Recommendation

Staff recommends approval of Certificate 5-A-23-HZ, subject to Commission discussion of the proposed new windows on the east elevation, and subject to two additional conditions: 1) new windows to receive arches, sills, and details to reflect original elements; 2) masonry repair to reflect standards of NPS Preservation Brief 2; 3) rear elevation chimneys to be retained, with structural information contributing to potential removal to be provided to staff for approval if necessary.

Applicant Request

Architectural feature; Masonry repair/painting; Porch; Windows

- Exterior rehabilitation and new rear porches.
- Rear elevation: non-historic, one-story addition on the rear (southwest) corner to be removed. Two, two-story porches to be installed in recessed massings on rear elevations, partially enclosed with vertical wooden slats. Windows on recessed massings to be replaced with full-light double doors. One infilled window will be restored to original size.
- East elevation: new double-hung, one-over-one, wood windows to be installed on the first and second stories, with a third new window to be installed in infilled opening towards the rear. New windows will feature low arches and sills to match original window detailing.
- West elevation: three bays of new double-hung, one-over-one windows to be installed on the west elevation, with the third bay of windows (towards the rear) at a slightly smaller size. New windows will feature low arches and sills to match original window detailing.
- Other exterior rehabilitation scopes: windows are proposed to be repaired as needed or replaced with new windows in same locations; new replacement windows will be one-over-one, double-hung wood to replace size and design of existing. Aluminum windows will be replaced with double-hung wood windows. Repair, repointing, and re-painting of exterior brick masonry, and the removal of two brick masonry chimneys on the rear. Interior (center of roofline) brick chimneys will be retained. Brick masonry wall on rear elevation may require full reconstruction, pending engineer's assessment, due to extensive moisture intrusion.
- APPROVED 5.18.2023, subject to the following conditions: 1) new windows to receive arches, sills, and details to reflect original elements; 2) masonry repair to reflect standards of NPS Preservation Brief 2; 3) rear elevation chimneys to be retained, with structural information contributing to potential retention or reconstruction to be provided to staff for approval if necessary.

Fourth and Gill H

- Style: Mediterranean Revival, c.1900
  - Two-story, flat-roof brick masonry townhouses. Decorative corbelling along rooflines. One-story, partial-width front porches with decorative trim.

Applicable Guidelines

Fourth and Gill Design Guidelines, adopted by the Knoxville City Council on April 20, 1999 and June 29, 1999.

- Roofs
- 3. Repair or replace roof details (chimneys, roof cresting, finials, attic vent windows, molding, and other unique roof features). Use some of these details in designing new buildings.
- Windows
- 1. Vinyl and aluminum replacement windows should not be used.
- 2. Original windows should not be reused. It will be much less expensive and much better historically to retain the original windows.
- 4. If replacement windows are necessary, they should be the same overall size as the originals, with the same pane division, and the same muntin style and exterior depth, width, and profile. False muntins or grids should not be used.
- 7. It can be appropriate to design and install additional windows on the rear or another secondary elevation. The designs should be compatible with the overall design of the building.
- Porches
- 1. Repair porches on historic houses using wood floors, balustrades, posts and columns, or replace duplicating the original size and design. Reconstruction of the documented original porch is also appropriate.
- 6. Screening porches may be acceptable if screening is translucent and the open appearance of the porch is maintained.
- Entrances
- 1. Entry features that should be preserved include sidelights and transoms of plain, patterned, beveled or stained glass, fan light windows, entablatures, and the original doors.
- 2. It may be appropriate to design or construct a new entrance if the historic one is missing. Any restoration should be based on historical, pictorial, or physical documentation and should be compatible with the historic character of the building and with adjacent buildings. It should not create a false historic appearance. Entrances should not be removed when rehabilitating a building, either in adapting to a new use or continuing a historic one.
- 4. Secondary entrances should be compatible with the originals in size, scale, and materials but should not give the appearance of a primary entrance.
- 7. Missing doors should be replaced with new doors appropriate for the style and period of the building. In replacing missing original doors, replacement doors should mimic doors typical for that architectural style, including materials, glazing, and pane configuration.
- Masonry
- 2. Identify and preserve masonry features that define the historic character of the building, including walls, railings, columns and piers, cornices and door and window placements.
- 7. Historic masonry should not be coated with paint, stucco, vapor permeable water-repellant coatings or other non-historic coatings.
- Additions
- 1. Locate attached exterior additions at the rear or on an inconspicuous side of a historic building, limiting the size and scale in relationship to the historic building. Proportion is very important.
- 3. Consider the attached exterior additions both in terms of the new use and the appearance of other buildings in the district. Design for the new work may be contemporary or may reference design motifs from the historic buildings. In either case, it should always be clearly differentiated from the historic building and be compatible in term of mass, materials, size, texture, scale, relationship of solids to voids, and color.