Historic Zoning Commission

Old North Knoxville H: Level I/II

10-I-20-HZ

Applicant Request

Replacement in-kind of wood beadboard porch ceiling; replacement of existing wood tongue-and-groove porch flooring with new tongue-and-groove porch flooring; replacement of non-historic, one-over-one, vinyl windows with one-over-one, double-hung wood windows (Jeld-Wen W-2500). Level 1 COA approved 10/5/2020; all other scopes of work to be reviewed by HZC on 10/15/2020.

Level II Items:
Replacement of vinyl lap siding on dormer with wood board-and-batten siding.

Replacement of two round, fluted Doric Columns on front porch with two tapered wood columns to reflect Craftsman style of house.

Conditions of approval identified at 10/15/20 HZC Meeting: Applicant to explore and document repair of any existing siding remaining under the dormer's existing vinyl siding, prior to replacement with the proposed wood board-and-batten material. Field visit to explore existing conditions prior to replacement of columns.

Site Info

One and one-half story frame with brick veneer wall covering. Side gable roof with asphalt shingle covering, shed-roof dormer clad in vinyl siding. Double hung one over one windows. One story wrap around front and side porch with round fluted wood columns and brick columns, brick balustrade. Interior offset chimney. Brick foundation. Irregular plan.

1. 234 E. Oklahoma Avenue is a contributing resource to the Old North Knoxville National Register Historic District and local historic overlay.

2. Removal of the non-historic vinyl siding on the dormer is appropriate. Guidelines recommend that replacement siding duplicate the original. Applicant should assess status of wood lap siding under vinyl siding on dormer, and repair or replace in patches if possible, prior to fully replacing with new wood siding.

3. No documentation exists that the columns have been replaced in the duration the ONK overlay has been in place. While the fluted columns are unique for a Craftsman style house, they are wood and no documentation has been provided of any deterioration. [updated 10/12/20]

4. While the Craftsman-style porch support most common in ONK (and Knoxville) is a tapered wood column resting on a brick pier, a tapered wood column that extends to porch or ground level is also identified as characteristic of the Craftsman style in McAlester's Field Guide to American Houses. The proposed column detail is more in keeping with the Craftsman style than the fluted Doric column, and the proposed wood materials meet the design guidelines.