Historic Zoning Commission

Knoxville High School Historic Landmark: Level II

2-I-19-HZ

Applicant Request

Level II. Construction of parking lot

Removal of existing circle driveway and any remaining walkways in the front yard of the building. Construct 26-car black asphalt-paved parking lot with white pavement markings. Construct concrete sidewalk at base of steps. The front yard will be graded flat and the existing pine tree and crab-apple tree will be removed. There will be a curb-cut to access the parking lot from the side street of Lamar Avenue. The front edge of the parking lot will be setback ~30 feet from the back edge of the public sidewalk. The area between the edge of the sidewalk and the edge of the parking lot will be grass. The doughboy statue and the surrounding 10 stone obelisks are proposed to be left intact, although the rear two of the obelisks are proposed to be moved forward 5 to 6 feet closer to the statue to accommodate parking spaces. Install concrete rolled curb and gutter at perimeter of the parking lot. Flowering trees such as dogwoods are proposed to be interspersed with hardwoods such as maples at intervals of 15-20 feet around the perimeter of the yard along the sidewalk.

Site Info

South (primary) façade: Two-story, three-bay brick building with marble quoins and a raised basement and flat roof. Square and ocular attic vent windows with marble surrounds. Projecting metal cornice above second story with plain square brackets and pressed metal cornice with egg-and-dart molding and motif of raised circles with enclosed crosses, typical of Baumann and Baumann designed buildings. Projecting central bay with two-story pedimented portico emphasizing primary elevation, ornamented with ocular attic window, four round Bedford limestone columns on large rectangular Bedford limestone plinths with recessed panels that are bordered with egg and dart molding. Columns crowned with Doric capitals. Pierced stone balustrade and marble steps flanked by extended marble buttresses and supporting flour globe cast iron light fixtures. Metal ceiling. Green and white on terra cotta encaustic tile floor with a Greek fret border. Deeply recessed front entry with double doors under an entablature with Greek fret and egg-and-dart-embellished cornice.

1. The Secretary of Interiors Standards adopted as design guidelines with the H-1 zoning overlay for the property authorize the HZC to review changes to the site of a designated property.
2.The driveway and the Doughboy statue as a central focal point in front of the building are important features of the historic site.
3. The original paving material of the driveway is unknown, although early photos show a pavement that is lighter in color than the street.
4. The current existing curbing along the driveway is square-edged in profile.
5. Although the paved driveway will be reconfigured into a parking lot, the doughboy statue and surrounding 10 obelisks will remain as a focal point. Two of the obelisks will be relocated to accommodate parking spaces.
6. No shrubs are proposed in or around the parking lot, but flowering trees such as dogwoods will be interspersed with hardwoods such as maples at intervals of 15 to 20 feet around the perimeter of the front property along the sidewalk.