8-C-22-DT

Level II: Century Building

Approve Subject To Conditions

APPROVE Certificate 8-C-22-DT, subject to the following conditions: 1) securing any necessary easements for new windows on the north elevation; 2) securing any necessary permissive use agreements for rear elevation balconies; 3) the use of double-hung instead of fixed windows on the Gay Street elevation, with final materials to be provided to staff for approval.

Case File

Recommendation

Staff recommends APPROVAL of Certificate 8-C-22-DT, subject to the following conditions: 1) securing any necessary easements for new windows on the north elevation; 2) securing any necessary permissive use agreements for rear elevation balconies; 3) the use of double-hung instead of fixed windows on the Gay Street elevation, with final materials to be provided to staff for approval.

Applicant Request

Level II: Addition, window replacement

- Continuation of a major exterior rehabilitation project for the Century Building, along with a two-story secondary entry addition to the left (north) of the building.
- Exterior rehabilitation elements: on Gay Street elevation, replacement of all existing double-hung, one-over-one windows with new fixed one-over-one windows (material not specified). On the left side (north) elevation, new one-over-one windows will be installed on four stories, with some infilling existing window openings and some windows as new openings. The proposed windows are evenly spaced along two-three bays towards the rear of the building. On the rear (Fire Street) elevation, new double-hung windows will be installed, with Juliet balconies on interior bays of the top three stories. Some work on the rear elevation was included in previous reviews and has been completed.
- Addition: A rectangular, two-story, flat-roof stair enclosure addition is proposed for the left side of the building, with an aluminum storefront system fronting Gay Street. The addition features two levels of aluminum storefront windows and will be clad in smooth-finish, precast concrete panels on the façade, vertical metal rainscreen panels on the north (side) elevation. The addition will adjoin the existing brick-clad elevator shaft on the rear.

Property Notes / Work to be Completed

- 321 S. Gay Street (the Century Building) is a contributing resource to the Gay Street Commercial Historic District, so the Historic Resources section of the guidelines applies.
- Some work on the building has already been completed under previous COAs (8-A-14-DT with minor staff revisions dated 4/10/18), 5-C-18-DT). The rear elevation exterior rehabilitation (including new windows and upper-level balconies) reflects what was approved in 2014 and 2018. Some of the new windows proposed for the north (left side) elevation reflect the initial proposal.
- The proposed new windows for the north elevation meet the design guidelines as they propose a comparable relationship of solids to voids as original or comparable window layouts, and use the same pane configuration and overall size as original windows present on the building. Any new windows not in existing openings may require easements to be obtained from adjoining property owners. On the rear elevation, if the proposed balconies extend over the right-of-way, a permissive use agreement should be obtained from the City of Knoxville.
- Guidelines for historic windows recommend that replacement windows duplicate "design, operation, material, glass size, muntin arrangements, profiles, and trim." The proposed fixed windows do not meet the design guidelines and double-hung windows should be selected instead. The applicant should specify replacement window material; wood or aluminum-clad wood would be appropriate choices for the building. The multi-light transoms should be repaired and maintained in place.
- The mechanical equipment is proposed for a secondary elevation, towards the rear of the building. Screening should meet City zoning standards (10.3.T.1), which will align with design guidelines.
- The proposed addition will provide a secondary entrance to residential units above the first floor. The proposal meets the design guidelines as it maintains the setback with the adjacent Century building, using floor heights and horizontal floor divisions to align with the existing first and second stories. The aluminum storefront will be compatible with the adjacent (modified) storefronts on the Century building. SOI Standards for historic buildings typically recommend that new additions be differentiated from the historic building but compatible with the materials, features, scale, and proportion. In general, the addition meets those guidelines; the Board may choose to discuss the proposed combination of precast concrete panels and vertical metal siding, and whether those materials are complimentary to the historic masonry exterior.

Applicable Guidelines

Downtown Design Guidelines

- B. Private Realm
- 3. Building Materials
- 3a. Use complimentary materials and elements, especially next to historic buildings.
- 7. Mechanical Equipment and Service Utilities
- 7a. Minimize the visual impact of mechanical equipment through screens or recessed/low-profile equipment.
- 7b. Do not locate units on a primary façade.
- 7c. Screen rooftop vents, heating/cooling units, and related utilities with parapet walls or other screens. Consider sound buffering-of the units as part of the design.
- 7e. Reduce the visual impacts of trash storage and service areas by locating them at the rear of the building or off an alley, when possible.
- 7f. Screen dumpsters from view.
- C. Historic Resources
- 1. Rooflines and Additions
- 1d. Do not alter, obscure, or destroy significant features of historic resources when constructing additions.
- 3. Entrances
- 3b. Allow for multiple entries on the first floor of the building, giving access to commercial space that may be divided into bays.
- 3c. Provide access to upper stories through additional entries.
- 4. Windows
- 4a. Repair rather than replace historic windows.
- 4b. Replace windows if repairs are not possible with matching windows, including duplicating design, operation, material, glass size, muntin arrangements, profiles, and trim.
- 4c. Insert windows with the same pane configuration, materials, and size as other buildings of the same general construction date, if no original windows are present.
- 4d. Maintain the relationship of solids to voids with new construction that is similar to other buildings in the district, including the typical width, height, spacing, and horizontal alignment of windows
- 10. New Construction Within or Adjacent to a Historic District or Building
- 10a. Maintain the setback of adjacent historic buildings. The height of the lower stories should be similar to adjacent historic buildings.
- 10b. Duplicate the horizontal floor divisions of existing buildings.
- 10c. Design windows to be of similar proportions to the adjacent historic building windows.
- 10d. Use ornamental stone, brickwork, and trim appropriate to the style of the infill building.
- 10e. Recognize the belt courses, string courses, cornices, and other elements of adjacent buildings.
- 10f. Incorporate storefronts that complement the openness, bulkheads, and transoms of historic buildings.