Historic Zoning Commission

Individual Landmark: Level I

11-E-03-HZ

The Lamar House was built as a residence before 1816, and was a three and one-half story late Georgian/early Federal style building, with symmetrical elevations and a horizontal and vertical alignment of bays, windows and door spacing on Gay Street. The present street level Gay Street entrance was the original basement entry until Gay Street was regraded in 1837. Post-Civil War photographs show the building with six over six light, double hung windows, alternating plain and segmented style window capitals, a portico and balcony entrance, an attic story pediment gable, brick chimney stacks and a standing seam metal gable roof. Major renovations in c.1900-1909 gave the building its current appearance, with two over two windows, a theater lobby and a marquee replacing the earlier balcony/portico entrance. The hotel lobby was relocated at the north end of the Gay Street façade, and a flat roof replaced the attic story and gable roof. The present front façade followed the 1900's rehabilitation, and was recently restored. Side walls of the auditorium exhibit exit doorways and iron fire escapes.


Location Knoxville
801 S Gay St

Owner
Bijou Theater Board of Directors

Applicant Request
Level I. Standard repair
Skylights or solar collectors; Other: Add marquee and blade sign at front entryEarly Georgian/Federal Style (c.1816;c.1900-1909)
    The Lamar House was built as a residence before 1816, and was a three and one-half story late Georgian/early Federal style building, with symmetrical elevations and a horizontal and vertical alignment of bays, windows and door spacing on Gay Street. The present street level Gay Street entrance was the original basement entry until Gay Street was regraded in 1837. Post-Civil War photographs show the building with six over six light, double hung windows, alternating plain and segmented style window capitals, a portico and balcony entrance, an attic story pediment gable, brick chimney stacks and a standing seam metal gable roof. Major renovations in c.1900-1909 gave the building its current appearance, with two over two windows, a theater lobby and a marquee replacing the earlier balcony/portico entrance. The hotel lobby was relocated at the north end of the Gay Street façade, and a flat roof replaced the attic story and gable roof. The present front façade followed the 1900's rehabilitation, and was recently restored. Side walls of the auditorium exhibit exit doorways and iron fire escapes.
Applicant

Bijou Theater Board of Directors


Case History