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Design Review Board

Level 1: Sign

8-B-21-DT

Proposed awnings and signs for new ground-level tenant at the General Building.

Projecting sign: 3' wide by 8' tall (24 sq. ft.) internally illuminated steel sign. Sign to be surface mounted to existing stone corner (Market St. and Church Ave. corner, in location of historic clock) and extend outwards 45 degrees. Sign will be located 14' above sidewalk level. Illumination will be limited to letters and ribbon detail.

Wall sign: 2' by 3' (6 sq. ft.) metal wall sign, to be installed on face of building between first and second doors. Layered metal sign will be installed at approximate height of existing bronze wall signs (adjacent to second and third doors) and non-illuminated.

Awnings: new canvas awnings to extend from second-story windows, supported by 'spear' support rods mounted to the face of the building. Six awnings to be installed on the Market Street elevation, and six awnings on the Church street elevation. Black canvas awnings will extend approximately 3' out from the building and be 4' tall, supported by bronze 'spear' supports which are approximately 4' tall.

Applicant Request
Proposed awnings and signs for new ground-level tenant at the General Building.

Projecting sign: 3' wide by 8' tall (24 sq. ft.) internally illuminated steel sign. Sign to be surface mounted to existing stone corner (Market St. and Church Ave. corner, in location of historic clock) and extend outwards 45 degrees. Sign will be located 14' above sidewalk level. Illumination will be limited to letters and ribbon detail.

Wall sign: 2' by 3' (6 sq. ft.) metal wall sign, to be installed on face of building between first and second doors. Layered metal sign will be installed at approximate height of existing bronze wall signs (adjacent to second and third doors) and non-illuminated.

Awnings: new canvas awnings to extend from second-story windows, supported by 'spear' support rods mounted to the face of the building. Six awnings to be installed on the Market Street elevation, and six awnings on the Church street elevation. Black canvas awnings will extend approximately 3' out from the building and be 4' tall, supported by bronze 'spear' supports which are approximately 4' tall.
Staff Comments
625 Market Street is listed on the National Register of Historic Places as the General Building so the Historic Resources section of the design guidelines applies.

Placement of the proposed projecting sign at the corner of Walnut and W. Church Ave meets the design guidelines. The sign exceeds the recommended 9 sq. ft proposed in the design guidelines; however, the sign is proportionate to the tall building and the overall storefront areas. While internal illumination is discouraged in the guidelines, internally illuminated signs on historic buildings have been previously approved by the Design Review Board in instances where illumination is limited to letters and small designs on the sign (instead of being fully backlit).

Incorporating a projecting sign in the location of the historic clock is compatible with the character of the building. If possible, the sign's mounting bolts should be installed in the same location as the clock's bolts, to avoid additional modifications to the building's historic limestone veneer.

The proposed metal wall sign is located in a unique location; however, there are existing wall signs in this location and the new sign will create symmetry with the existing wall signs.

Guidelines recommend awnings in traditional shapes and materials, noting that canvas is usually the appropriate material for awnings. The guidelines recommend that the overall size, shape, and projection from the building must be in proper proportion and scale to the building and contained within the window they shelter. The proposed awnings, although using unique spear-shaped supports, meet these design guidelines. The limestone veneer is a character-defining feature of the historic building. Whenever possible, the spear support rods should be installed in the "joints" of the limestone detailing, use existing holes, or be installed in the wall in a manner so as to have as minor an effect on the limestone veneer as possible.
Applicant

Woodcock

Planning Staff
Lindsay Lanois
Phone: 865-215-3795
Email: lindsay.lanois@knoxplanning.org
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Case History