Recommendation
Staff recommends approval of Certificate 8-B-26-DT subject to the following conditions.1. Meeting the minimum 9-ft sidewalk clearance per Article 10.3.F.2.a (Awnings and Marquees) of the zoning ordinance.2. Meeting the maximum sign area per Article 13.9.F. 3. The text on the front of the awning can be boxed in with neon lights, but the neon striping at the top and bottom edge of the canopy must be removed. 3. The underside of the awning can be black or high gloss white.4. With the exception of the three modifications noted in the description of work for this request, all other aspects of the signage and awning remain unchanged from the desciption of work in Certificate of Appropriate 1-F-26-DT and are made part of this approval by reference.
Applicant Request
Level I - Board Review: New signs and awningc. 1900, Vernacular Commercial
- Revision to the previously approved Certificate of Appropriateness (COA), 1-F-26-DT as follows:
- 1) Modifying COA 1-F-26-DT condition #3 to allow the underside of the awning to be high gloss white to match the historic awning, rather than a black finish.
- 2) Adding integrated linear downlight strip on the underside of the canopy (see reflective ceiling plan on page 8 of the plan set).
- 3) Add neon text to the front of the awning on the right side, similar to the text on the left side of the awning that was approved with COA 1-F-26-DT.
- Condition #2 of the COA 1-F-26-DT allowed the text on the front of the awning to be boxed in neon, but does not allow the strip of neon along the top and bottom edges of the awning as presented on the plan.
Property Notes / Work to be Completed
- Awning (Canopy): The applicant provided historic images of a similar awning on this building in the late 1940's. While the neon striping was on the older awning, which is the precedent for this proposal, staff recommended removing the neon striping with the previous approval (1-F-26-DT), and the board only approved neon boxing the text on front of the awning. Staff supports the addition of the neon text on the right side of the awning with the allowance of boxing the text with neon, as the board previously approved for the neon text on the left side of the awning.
- Illumination of awnings is not addressed by the guidelines, and other types of illumination, such as for signs, are not recommended by the historic resources section of the design guidelines. In addition, the zoning ordinance prohibits neon or LED lighting that outlines doors, windows, architectural features, and building facades (Article 10.2.D).
Applicable Guidelines
Downtown Design Guidelines
See Guidelines- C. Historic Resources
- 7. Recommended Signs
- Commercial establishments need to advertise. However, advertising signs should be effective and appropriate to historic areas without contributing to visual clutter. Primary concerns are a sign's location, size, material, and illumination.
- 7a. Locate signs above storefront windows, below second-story windows on the sign board, or on the storefront windows themselves (30% is maximum coverage), or off the front of the building as a projecting sign (maximum size: 9 square feet).
- 7b. Create signs that are proportional to the building where they are located.
- 7c. Do not light signs internally.
- 8. Awnings
- Awnings are allowed on historic buildings when they are appropriate to the building and are designed with traditional shapes, forms, and materials. If awnings are used, their overall size, shape, and projection from the building must be in proper proportion and scale to the building and contained within the window or door they
- shelter, and not cover adjacent wall surfaces. Canvas is usually the appropriate material for awnings.
- 8a. Allow awnings in traditional shapes and materials.
- 8b. Contain signs or advertising only within the valence of the awning
- C. Historic Resources
Meeting Date
August 19, 2026
Jacks
133 S. Gay St. 37902
DK-G (Downtown Knoxville, Grid Subdistrict)
Applicant
