Historic Zoning Commission

Old North Knoxville H: Level III

6-D-23-HZ

Applicant Request

New primary structure fronting Leonard Place. One-and-one-half-story house measures 28' wide by 63'-7" overall (length includes an 8' deep front porch and 12' deep rear porch. The house is proposed to be set 20' from the front property line. The house features a side-gable roof (pitch not noted) clad in asphalt shingles, an exterior of horizontal lap and board-and-batten siding, and a foundation which is 2'-10" tall at the façade. Parking (a 35' wide by 24' deep pad) is located at the rear of the house, accessed by the alley.

The façade (south) features a centered front-gable roof dormer with three adjoining one-over-one windows, with a full-length, shed-roof porch supported by square wood posts on brick piers. The dormer is clad in board-and-batten siding with shingle siding above the windows. The three-bay façade features two double-hung, one-over-one windows followed by a Craftsman-style door flanked by sidelights.

The left (west) elevation features three evenly spaced double-hung windows in the gable field, which is clad in board-and-batten siding and shingles. Four bays of windows are irregularly spaced on the left side. On the rear (north) elevation, a large shed-roof dormer is clad in board-and-batten siding with three small windows. The right (east) elevation features four bays of windows of different sizes on the first story, and three bays of windows on the gable field.

CONDITIONS OF APPROVAL PER 6.15.23 HZC MEETING: 1) front setback to be revised to be compatible with the front setback pattern of the block; 2) final site plan to meet City Engineering standards; 3) siding materials to be wood or smooth-finished fiber cement, 4-5" in exposure; 4) gables to be clad in wood shingles or board-and-batten, omitting third siding design; 5) revision to side elevation window placement and proportions, with drawings submitted to staff; 6) all elevations of foundation to be clad in brick; 7) final window specifications to be submitted to staff for approval, including a profile indicating appropriate window trim and sills; 8) chimney either be brought within the footprint of the house or be extended vertically and clad in brick to reflect a typical chimney.

Site Info

Vacant lot.

1. The house is proposed to be set 20' from the front property line, measuring from the front porch. The average front setback of the block is 16.5', with the house adjacent on the left at 20' (with a full-length front porch at 10') from the front property line and the house to the right at 16'. The house should be moved towards the front property line to align with the front setback pattern of the block. The house has even side yard setbacks.

2. Locating the parking at the rear of the property, accessed from the alley, will preserve the existing streetscape along Leonard Place, avoiding a new curb cut or front yard parking. The final site plan should meet City Engineering standards.

3. An interpretation of a Craftsman-style house is appropriate for the context, though the immediate block is characterized by Queen Anne cottages and two-story Queen Annes. Additional Craftsman bungalows are located on the 100 block of Leonard Place.

4. The 1.5-story house is proposed for a block with 1-story and 1.5-story houses, with 2-story houses at the west end of the block. The overall scale of the house is consistent with the dimensions of the lot and the houses on the block. The front and rear dormers are both large in scale. While the rear dormer will be minimally visible from the street, the Commission may choose to discuss the overall scale and design in relation to the house.

5. The guidelines recommend "break[ing] up uninteresting box-like forms into smaller varied massings by use of bays, extended porches, and roof shapes." The design avoids simple box-like forms with roofline variation and porch detail. The guidelines also recommend a "mix of wall areas with window and door elements in the façade like those on existing buildings." The façade demonstrates sufficient transparency and a balanced arrangement of windows and doors.

6. The house has a side-gable roof but does not specify the pitch. Guidelines recommend a 12/12 pitch, though some Craftsman houses have roofs less steep than a 12/12 pitch. The applicant should specify the roof pitch, using an 8/12 or higher pitch.

7. The elevation drawings indicate a foundation which is 24" tall at the front and reduces in height towards the rear. While the porch foundation is clad in brick veneer, the side elevations are unfinished CMU. Brick should clad all elevations of the foundation.

8. Guidelines recommend that materials for new buildings be consistent with materials on the street. Fiber cement lap siding has been approved for new construction or additions in the ONK overlay; the lap siding should be smooth-finished and 4-5" in exposure to be compatible with original lap siding on the street. Wood siding would also mete the design guidelines. The applicant should provide final material specifications. The gable fields on the dormer and side gables should be revised to use one siding material (shingles or a board and batten could be considered) instead of two to be compatible with historic Craftsman siding details.

9. The house incorporates an 8' deep front porch. Wood posts on brick piers are characteristic of the Craftsman style, though the porch posts differ in design on front (square) and side elevation drawings (tapered). The drawings should be revised to show final design intent. The rear porch is large in scale, with a unique roof form, though it will not be visible from the right-of-way.

10. Overall, the side elevations demonstrate a sufficient amount of transparency. On both side elevations, the windows are irregular in size and placement. Side elevations should be revised to demonstrate more consistent window sizes. On the upper-level gable fields, window placement and design should match or be compatible on both sides. The applicant has not provided information on window materials. The windows should incorporate sills and trim compatible with historic windows in profile and depth, with a profile to be submitted for approval.

11. The drawings indicate a Craftsman-style door and sidelights, though materials aren't provided. Final specifications should be submitted for approval.