Historic Zoning Commission

Old North Knoxville H: Level II

10-K-22-HZ

Applicant Request

Continued exterior rehabilitation of a house initially damaged by fire in 2020. Property has changed owners multiple times since being damaged by fire in June 2020. See enclosed COAs and stamped drawings for work approved and completed under 6-G-20-HZ, work approved (and denied) and completed under 7-G-21-HZ.

After-the-fact, the applicant is proposing the removal of a secondary façade door and re-orienting of façade elevation windows; the installation of two composite sliding windows on the façade's second story; the removal of primary façade door, sidelights, and transom; the construction of a new rear deck; and all new one-over-one, double-hung composite windows (already installed).

Also proposed but not yet completed: removal and reconstruction of paired square wood columns on brick bases; repair to partial-height brick porch wall; the installation of a new wood multi-light door with five-light sidelights and a five-light transom; new second-story windows on the rear elevation; the installation of brick veneer on the reconstructed chimneys; the installation of a new metal half-light rear door; repair to brick masonry foundation.

CONDITIONS OF APPROVAL PER 10/20/2022 HZC MEETING:
1) Applicant to select new windows which meet the design guidelines and submit to staff for approval, along with revising the exterior window trim to reflect the original; [WINDOW SPECS to match Jeld-Wen, double-hung, wood window specs dated 10/26/22 submitted to staff, WINDOW TRIM to match detail drawing submitted to staff]
2) Chimneys to be restored to match original detailing;
3) Reconstructed porch columns to match originals in size and design;
4) Revised front and rear doors to be submitted to staff for approval; [front and rear doors to match specs submitted to staff 10/27/22]
5) Any revisions to façade window placement to be submitted to staff.

Site Info

Original property description, prior to 2020 fire: two story frame residence with weatherboard wall covering. Jerkin head gable roof with asphalt shingle covering. Double hung two over two and four-light casement windows. One story three-quarter front porch with paired wood posts on brick piers and enclosed balustrade. Interior offset brick chimneys. Brick foundation. Irregular plan. Sidelights and transom at front entry.

1. 1017 Thompson Place is a contributing resource to the ONK National Register district and local historic overlay. The house underwent a significant fire in early summer 2020, necessitating reconstruction of many exterior and interior elements. See enclosed COAs and stamped drawings for work approved and completed under 6-G-20-HZ, work approved (and denied) and completed under 7-G-21-HZ. A third owner and applicant is now applying for modifications to the previous approvals.

2. The secondary façade door (now removed) is not an original element of the house, most likely installed when the house was converted to multiple units. Removal of the secondary door meets the design guidelines. Associated with the removal of the second façade door, the Commission should discuss the revised placement of the façade first-story windows.

3. The proposed windows were not approved under 6-G-20-HZ or 7-G-201-HZ and do not meet the design guidelines. The original windows were two-over-two, double-hung wood windows and four-light wood casement windows. The installed windows are composite or vinyl, one-over-one windows which project slightly outward from the siding, and composite or vinyl sliding windows on the second story.

Design guidelines recommend that replacement windows be the "same overall size as the originals, with the same pane division and same muntin depth, width, and profile" and "the same materials as the original windows, which were generally wood." The applicant should select new window specifications which meet the design guidelines and submit to staff for approval. The flat window trim does not reflect the original window trim design in size or design and should be revised.

4. Guidelines recommend repairing or replacing roof details, including chimneys and attic vents. The two brick masonry chimneys were unique features, evenly spaced with one on each roof slope and featuring a simple corbelling detail at the top. Previous approvals have noted that both chimneys and the three adjoining rectangular wood louvered vents should be restored in-kind. The wood louvered vents visible on old Streetview images of the house may not be original.

5. Design guidelines for doors note that a new entrance must be compatible in size, scale, and material, with restoration based on physical documentation. The proposed door and sidelights are a contemporary interpretation of a wood Craftsman door and window elements. Glass used in the transom, sidelights, and door should be clear and the door should avoid overly decorative staining or carving details. The Commission should discuss the proposed rear door and determine whether it is compatible with primary entrances in size, scale, and materials. Comparable doors have been approved on non-visible elevations in ONK in the past.

6. Repair to the brick porch wall should meet the design guidelines for masonry repair; any new mortar should be matched to the existing in composition and color. Reconstruction of the deteriorated paired wood porch columns is appropriate within the guidelines, provided the reconstructed columns and their bases match the originals in size and design.

7. The deck is minor in size, uses pressure-treated wood, and will not be visible from the public right-of-way.