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Design Review Board

Level 1: Minor alteration of an existing building/structure

6-B-16-DT

This proposal is for the renovation of the building and signage only. Site improvements, such as outdoor patios, will be reviewed separately.

Exterior modifications include replacement of existing EIFS and with aluminum panels, replacement of two windows on the northeast elevation with two new doors to match the existing main entry doors, install new metal canopy with signage, and a landscaping trellis on a rear CMU wall located in the "beer garden".

Canopy: The canopy will be made of natural aluminum and will have a continuous white neon band. The canopy will have a clearance of 9'-11" with the private sidewalk and will extend from the building approximately 4'-0".

Signs: There are two different signs attached to the canopy, one attached to the front edge of the horizontal portion of the canopy and one attached to both sides of the vertical potion of the canopy (similar to a projecing sign). Both signs will be constructed of channel letters with neon illumination. The horizontal sign is 21'-11" wide by 2'-0" tall (appxominately 44 sqft). The vertical signage is approximately 7'-4" tall by 2'-6" wide (approximately 18 sqft).

Location
137 Central St
Applicant Request
This proposal is for the renovation of the building and signage only. Site improvements, such as outdoor patios, will be reviewed separately.

Exterior modifications include replacement of existing EIFS and with aluminum panels, replacement of two windows on the northeast elevation with two new doors to match the existing main entry doors, install new metal canopy with signage, and a landscaping trellis on a rear CMU wall located in the "beer garden".

Canopy: The canopy will be made of natural aluminum and will have a continuous white neon band. The canopy will have a clearance of 9'-11" with the private sidewalk and will extend from the building approximately 4'-0".

Signs: There are two different signs attached to the canopy, one attached to the front edge of the horizontal portion of the canopy and one attached to both sides of the vertical potion of the canopy (similar to a projecing sign). Both signs will be constructed of channel letters with neon illumination. The horizontal sign is 21'-11" wide by 2'-0" tall (appxominately 44 sqft). The vertical signage is approximately 7'-4" tall by 2'-6" wide (approximately 18 sqft).
Staff Comments
The proposed canopy signs are not a recommended type of sign within the "Traditional Grid District" (Section 2.B of the guideleins), which include wall signs on sign boards, projecting signs, and windows signs. This building has an atypical design within the traditional grid district, being one-story and being setback from the sidewalk and situated at an angle. The proposed canopy is in keeping with the design of this building but may not be appropriate in most other circumstances. In addition, the building does not have a typical sign board above the storefront that would allow wall signs as recommended by the guidelines. The sign attached to the front edge of the canopy is slightly larger than would normally fit on a sign board, however, because the building is setback from the street and situated toward an auto oriented portion of Summit Hill Drive, staff feels the size is appropriate for the location. Similarly, staff feels the signage on the vertical portion of the canopy is appropriate because of the distance from the road/sidewalk and auto oriented character of this portion of Summit Hill Drive.

Within the beer garden area, the rendering of the rear of the building shows a large wall graphic that says "Merchants of Beer" with an image, this is not considered a "sign" because it is not oriented toward or visible from the street.

Applicable guidelines:

Section 1.B.1 (BUILDING MASS, SCALE AND FORM)
Building form should be consistent with the character of downtown as an urban setting and should reinforce the pedestrian activity at the street level. Creating pedestrian-scale buildings, especially at street level, can reduce the perceived mass of buildings. Historically, building technology limited height and subsequently created pedestrian-scaled buildings typically less than 10 stories. Building technology no longer limits the height of buildings and there are no height limitations imposed by the zoning ordinance for downtown Knoxville. However, there is still a need for buildings that respond to pedestrians. The use of 'human-scale' design elements is necessary to accomplish this. Human-scale design elements are details and shapes that are sized to be proportional to the human body, such as, upper story setbacks, covered entries, and window size and placement.
GUIDELINES:
1c. Use building materials, cornice lines, signs, and awnings of a human scale in order to reduce the mass of buildings as experienced at the street level.
1e. Avoid blank walls along street-facing elevations.

Section 1.B.3. (BUILDING MATERIALS)
New building materials should relate to the scale, durability, color, and texture of the predominate building materials in the area.
GUIDELINES:
3a. Use complimentary materials and elements, especially next to historic buildings.

Section 1.B.4. (ARCHITECTURAL CHARACTER)
Buildings should be visually interesting to invite exploration by pedestrians. A building should express human scale through materials and forms that were seen traditionally. This is important because buildings are experienced at close proximity by the pedestrian.
GUIDELINES:
4a. Encourage first floor uses that draw walk-in traffic; businesses that do not require pedestrian traffic should be located on other floors.
4b. Enhance pedestrian interest in commercial and office buildings by creating a largely transparent and consistent rhythm of entrances and windows.
4c. Scale first floor signs to pedestrians.

Section 1.B.5. (GROUND FLOOR DOORS AND WINDOWS)
Entrances and ground floor windows should foster pedestrian comfort, safety and orientation. Not every building in downtown needs to have the same window or entry designs; however, repeating the pattern of historic openings helps to reinforce the character of downtown, differentiating it from suburban areas.
GUIDELINES:
5a. Use consistent rhythm of openings, windows, doorways, and entries.
5b. Orient primary front entrances to the main street; secondary entrances should be clearly defined and oriented to streets or alleys, as appropriate.
5c. Design entrances according to the proportions of the building's height and width.
5d. Consider corner entrances at the ends of blocks.
5e. All windows at the pedestrian level should be clear.
5f. Recess ground floor window frames and doors from the exterior building face to provide depth to the facade.

Section 2.B.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.
1c. Window signs, less than 30 percent coverage, including neon signs.
1d. Building name sign and/or building directory.
Applicant

Studio Four Design

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