Historic Zoning Commission

N/A: Level III

12-C-07-HZ

Staff Recommendation

APPROVE Certificate No. 120407GEN with modifications that would 1) refuse the installation of balconies on the south elevation nearest Gay Street, 2) require removed windows to be stored, and 3) specify color of balconies match fire escape.


Location Knoxville
602 S Gay St 37902

Northeast side of S. Gay St., southeast side of Clinch Ave.


Owner
Jason DeBord Jason DeBord The Burwell Condominium Owner's Association

Applicant Request
Level III. New construction of primary building(s) or deviation from guidelines
Install balconies at several locations on south and east building facades, as shown on attachments. Balconies to be tube steel, suspended with cables from sides of building, requiring window removal and installation of full glass door to gain access to balcony. Width of balconies to encompass width of two windows on east elevations.

Second Renaissance Revival (1907; 1928)
    The Burwell building was designed in 1907 by the Richards, McCarty and bulford architectural firm of Columbus, Ohio, and was built as the Knoxville Banking and Trust Company Building. It was renamed the Burwell Building in 1917, after its purchase by C. B. Atkins. The Tennessee Theater portion of the building was designed by Graven and Maygar, a Chicago design firm, and was built in an addition to the Burwell Building, made in 1928. Seven bays facing Gay Street are arranged into three horizontal divisions. A base is formed by the ground floor, mezzanine and second floor, a cornice separates the third through ninth floors, and a terra cotta belt course separates the ninth and tenth floors, with a heavy cornice at the top of the building on the front façade. The bricks on the front façade, which carry around to the south elevation and are visible from Gay Street, are buff brick. Windows on the front elevation are one light with metal sashes, probably replacing the original windows during rehabilitation that occurred in the 1970's.

    To the rear of the building (east elevations), walls are common red brick. Recent additions to the building, required during its conversion to condominiums, are a light colored metal fire escapes in the southeast corner of the building, and general rehabilitation to the building's exterior.

    In addition to the west elevation facing Gay Street and the north elevation facing Clinch Avenue, the front portion of the south elevation, faced in buff-colored brick, is also visible from Gay Street. The east elevations of the front building and the south and east elevations of the rear building, while they may be visible from James White Parkway, or from State, tend to get lost in the grouping of other non-distinctive rear elevations of the buildings fronting Gay Street and were at the time of designation and of National Register listing, not regarded as significant. Some of the windows on those elevations appear to be original. Others have been replaced prior to the current renovation.
Applicant

Michael Brady INC.


Case History