Historic Zoning Commission

E. Jackson Avenue H-1: Level II

9-H-17-HZ

Applicant Request

Level II. Major replacement of materials or architectural elements

Reconstruct storefront that was removed from along sidewalk edge an recessed in more recent years. Proposed design to align storefront with edge of sidewalk based on photographic and physical evidence, and historic documention. Utilize fire-rated wood storefront framing and entry door frame and paneled bulkhead. Wood panels to be trimmed with quarter round. Glass transom to be re-created across storefront. Opening in storefront without door to remain in right end of storefront to allow for Knoxville Utility Board access to meters. Flush metal access door to electrical room to be added to left-hand side of storefront. See submitted drawings dated 1/29/2018 (elevations), 1/11/2018 (details).

Site Info

Two-story, two-bay, brick warehouse sub-type. It was originally used as a feed store, and later as an herb shop, cleaners, barber shop, and furniture store. Currently the owners are renovating it into an architectural and design office and residence on the second floor and retail space downstairs. The front façade appears to have been altered from a flush store-front façade to a recessed drive-in loading area supported by a brick-faced post. This is assumed because of the change of brick type and bond on only the front façade of the building. The first floor contains a diagonally recessed wood frame display window and entry door with garage door in the east bay. The west bay contains a set of double doors and an entry door to the upper level. The second floor contains several stylized Chicago style windows. (One central large pane with two smaller side panes, very popular during the early 1900's.) These wood frame windows have brick lintels and sills. Above this is a simple cornice with enlarged dentils. Separating the first and second floors is a simple wood cornice. Four skylights flood the second floor with light.

1. The building is designated as an individual historic local H-1 Overlay landmark property. It is also a contributing property withitn the Jackson Avenue Warehouse Extension National Register Historic District.

2. Relocating the recessed storefront to the edge of the sidewalk is justified primarily since the phyical evidence in the materials and architectural/structural components of the building indicate that this was the original location of the storefront:


•Evidence of more recent infill brick where façade was removed

•Evidence of remaining early brick at original street-face facade

•Evidence of more recent poured concrete on floor

•Non-historic bulkhead on recessed facade

•Evidence of new concrete poured as a base for recessed façade

•Added column for cut ceiling-beam support

•Evidence of uncut ceiling-beam going through the façade

•Evidence of cut ceiling-beam against façade

3.There is also photographic evidence of the storefront configuration of similar-era buildings in the area.

4. The Main Street Manual by the National Trust for Historic Preservation states that: "In the 1920s and 1930s a variety of new materials were introduced into the storefront, including aluminum and steel framing elements. During this period, design elements were simplified and streamlined.

5. The proposed metal materials for framing for the large storefront windows and transoms, and wood for the bulkhead and entry door frame are appropriate materias and appropriately scaled based on the specifications.

6. The scale and sectional divisions of the proposed storefront are appropriately proportional and scaled based on designs for similar-era buildings.

7. No exterior historic materials will be removed or damaged by the proposed renovation plan.

8. The project meets the Secretary of the Interiors Guidelines for Rehabilitating Historic Buildings - i.e. Commercial Storefronts (included in this report).