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Design Review Board

Level 1: Minor alteration of an existing building/structure

9-E-18-DT

Revision to the previously approved COA 4-D-17-DT. This proposal is to revise the ground floor storefront on the east elevation only.

Extend approximately half the commercial space out to be flush with the upper floors of the building. This is for the portion of the commercial space furthest away from the Depot Ave. / Williams St. intersection. The remaining commercial space along the east elevation will remain recessed as previously approved. The building has a setback of about 15'-2" from the Williams Street property line.

The wall of the extend ground floor commercial space will be clad in brick and cast stone to match the rest of the building (Sheet A206, East Elevation). A full lite metal door and glass sidelite is located on the south wall of the extended ground floor, and a solid metal door is located on the north wall of the extension. The glass door will open into the recessed space in front of the storefront and the solid door will open into the recess for egress.

Location
333 W Depot Ave
Applicant Request
Revision to the previously approved COA 4-D-17-DT. This proposal is to revise the ground floor storefront on the east elevation only.

Extend approximately half the commercial space out to be flush with the upper floors of the building. This is for the portion of the commercial space furthest away from the Depot Ave. / Williams St. intersection. The remaining commercial space along the east elevation will remain recessed as previously approved. The building has a setback of about 15'-2" from the Williams Street property line.

The wall of the extend ground floor commercial space will be clad in brick and cast stone to match the rest of the building (Sheet A206, East Elevation). A full lite metal door and glass sidelite is located on the south wall of the extended ground floor, and a solid metal door is located on the north wall of the extension. The glass door will open into the recessed space in front of the storefront and the solid door will open into the recess for egress.
Staff Comments
This proposal will remove 10'-8" of glass storefront area, including two full glass doors, facing Williams Street. The amount of blank ground floor façade will increase by the same amount. The reason for this proposal is to accommodate a restaurant kitchen, which is why no glass storefront was proposed. The guidelines recommend that secondary entrances should be clearly defined and oriented toward the street. This proposal does not conform with this guideline but the previously approved plan did. This building is designed to provide primary access to the ground floor commercial space from the Depot Ave. frontage.

Applicable guidelines:

Section 1.B.1 (BUILDING MASS, SCALE AND FORM)
Building form should be consistent with the character of downtown as an urban setting and should reinforce the pedestrian activity at the street level. Creating pedestrian-scale buildings, especially at street level, can reduce the perceived mass of buildings. Historically, building technology limited height and subsequently created pedestrian-scaled buildings typically less than 10 stories. Building technology no longer limits the height of buildings and there are no height limitations imposed by the zoning ordinance for downtown Knoxville. However, there is still a need for buildings that respond to pedestrians. The use of 'human-scale' design elements is necessary to accomplish this. Human-scale design elements are details and shapes that are sized to be proportional to the human body, such as, upper story setbacks, covered entries, and window size and placement.
GUIDELINES:
1e. Avoid blank walls along street-facing elevations.

Section 1.B.2. (BUILDING LOCATION)
It is important to establish a strong relationship among buildings, sidewalks, and streets. This is typically accomplished through consistent setbacks that locate buildings on the same line.
GUIDELINES:
2a. Set buildings back five feet in order to provide wider sidewalk space when new construction in non-historic areas is to be more than half the length of the block.

Section 1.B.4. (ARCHITECTURAL CHARACTER)
Buildings should be visually interesting to invite exploration by pedestrians. A building should express human scale through materials and forms that were seen traditionally. This is important because buildings are experienced at close proximity by the pedestrian.
GUIDELINES:
4a. Encourage first floor uses that draw walk-in traffic; businesses that do not require pedestrian traffic should be located on other floors.
4b. Enhance pedestrian interest in commercial and office buildings by creating a largely transparent and consistent rhythm of entrances and windows.
4d. Differentiate the architectural features of ground floors from upper floors with traditional considerations such as show-windows, transoms, friezes, and sign boards.

Section 1.B.5. (GROUND FLOOR DOORS AND WINDOWS)
Entrances and ground floor windows should foster pedestrian comfort, safety and orientation. Not every building in downtown needs to have the same window or entry designs; however, repeating the pattern of historic openings helps to reinforce the character of downtown, differentiating it from suburban areas.
GUIDELINES:
5a. Use consistent rhythm of openings, windows, doorways, and entries.
5b. Orient primary front entrances to the main street; secondary entrances should be clearly defined and oriented to streets or alleys, as appropriate.
5c. Design entrances according to the proportions of the building's height and width.
5d. Consider corner entrances at the ends of blocks.
5e. All windows at the pedestrian level should be clear.
5f. Recess ground floor window frames and doors from the exterior building face to provide depth to the facade.
Applicant

Ortiz

Planning Staff
Mike Reynolds
Phone: 865-215-3827
Email: mike.reynolds@knoxplanning.org
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