Recommendation
Recommend approval of Certificate 8-C-26-DT subject to the following condition.1) Meeting all applicable requirements of the Article 13 (Signs) of the City of Knoxville Zoning Code.
Applicant Request
Level I - Board Review: New signsNew signs
- New internally illuminated wall signs, projecting sign, and awning sign.
- Wall signs (top of building): Three 8'-0" x 8'-0" (64 sqft) internally illuminated wall signs with a dark background color and white lettering. One sign will be located on the east elevation, facing Walnut Street, and two will be on the south elevation, facing Union Avenue, with one at each corner of that elevation.
- Wall sign (Locust Street, second floor): One 7'-10" x 1'-2" (9.2 sqft) internally illuminated, channel letter wall sign with a white sign face.
- Wall sign (Walnut Street, first floor): One 2'-0" x 2'-0" (4 sqft) internally illuminated wall sign, mounted perpendicular to Walnut Street, next to the hotel entry, adjacent to the small storefront space.
- Projecting sign (Walnut Street): One 10'-7.5" x 2'-0" (21.25 sqft) internally illuminated projecting sign, mounted 14'-4" above the Walnut Street sidewalk between the first and second bay of windows on the left (south) side of the elevation. The sign face is aluminum with a dark background, routed to allow the light to shine through the white letters.
- Awning sign (Walnut Street): One 16'-11" x 1'-2" (27 sqft) internally illuminated channel letter sign with a white sign face attached to the front of the awning, centered above the guest entry driveway.
Property Notes / Work to be Completed
- The design guidelines do not specifically address large wall signs near the top of large buildings, but the board can consider them on a case-by-case basis to ensure they are scaled appropriately for the location.
- The design guidelines recommend projecting signs with a maximum area of 9 sqft. The imagery in the design guidelines is of a sign hung at street level, where smaller signs are more appropriate. This projecting sign is located on the second floor, where a larger size can be more appropriate.
- The design guidelines recommend wall signs located on the signboard, above storefronts and below second-story windows. The awning sign meets the general location recommendation, but is located on the awning instead of the building. Other wall signs are sized appropriately for the locations and meet the general intent of the guidelines.
Applicable Guidelines
Downtown Design Guidelines
See Guidelines- Section 2: The Districts
- B. The Traditional Grid District
- 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.
- 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.
- Section 2: The Districts
Meeting Date
August 19, 2026
AC Hotel
427 Walnut St. 37902
DK-G (Downtown Knoxville, Grid Subdistrict)
Applicant
