Historic Zoning Commission

Blount Mansion Individual H Landmark: Level II

1-E-23-HZ

Applicant Request

New secondary structure (greenhouse) for Blount Mansion and Craighead-Jackson House complex. The greenhouse is proposed for the northeast corner of the property, east of the Craighead-Jackson house and the existing gardens. The greenhouse will be set at an angle aligned with the southeast property line, set approximately 5' from the north property line and 10' from the east/southeast property line.

The rectangular greenhouse will measure approximately 14'-4" wide by 20'-4" deep, with an 8/12 pitch gable roof. The greenhouse rests on an 18" CMU foundation, clad in brick, above a concrete turn-down slab. Primarily enclosed by large single-light glass awning windows on the walls and ceiling, the greenhouse is supported by wood four by four posts with decorative carvings. The façade features full cornice returns, wood louvered vents, and a centrally-located full-light door. A decorative ridge runs the length of the roofline.

Site Info

Blount Mansion is a two-story, side-gable roof residence with an exterior clad in wood lap siding and a brick foundation, and two one-story wings extending from the side elevations. The adjacent Craighead-Jackson house is a two-story (with a basement) brick masonry structure. The overall property features reconstructed gardens and associated secondary structures.

1. Blount Mansion is a National Historic Landmark and a local historic overlay, and the Craighead-Jackson House is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

2. The greenhouse is proposed for a secondary location on the site, adjacent to the Craighead-Jackson's gardens, and set at a grade lower than the Hill Avenue viaduct. The greenhouse will be clearly secondary in placement to the main houses on the property. Final modifications may be necessary to the site plan to meet City standards or accommodate a challenging topography; staff could approve minor changes to the site plan, provided the overall scale and design are not modified.

3. The greenhouse is modest in height, scale, and massing, and will be secondary but compatible with the simple gable-roof houses on the property. The proposed materials of glass, wood supports, and a brick-clad foundation are compatible with both Blount Mansion and the Craighead-Jackson House. Due to secondary placement, compatible design, and the use of contemporary materials and construction tactics, the greenhouse will be differentiated from the original and historic structures on the property.