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Design Review Board

Level 1: Minor alteration of an existing building/structure

3-B-16-DT

This proposal is for phase 1 only of the Old City Streetscape improvements, which includes the south side of W. Jackson Avenue from State Street to S. Central Street. The entire streetscape project is intended to provide improvements to both sides of Jackson Avenue from the end of the east ramp to Gay Street to Patton Street, to better accommodate pedestrians with the existing traffic patterns.

Phase 1 of the project includes widening the sidewalk, installing pedestrian oriented street lights, undergrounding the utilities, and providing an area for loading and unloading. The on-street parking in this stretch of W. Jackson Avenue will be eliminated as part of this phase (south side only). The majority of the sidewalk will be widened to approximately 16', with it narrowed down to approximately 7' where the loading area is provided near the intersection of W. Jackson Ave. and S. Central St. The proposed street lighting will be the same as the rest of the Old City (see attached image).

An accessibility ramp is necessary to provide access to a portion of The Daniel building, which will include a metal handrail (see the "Proposed Layout" sheet). The ramp will be 5' wide, which will leave approximately 11' of sidewalk clearance to the curb.

Location
W Jackson Ave

Jackson Avenue, between S. Gay Street and N. Central Street.

Applicant Request
This proposal is for phase 1 only of the Old City Streetscape improvements, which includes the south side of W. Jackson Avenue from State Street to S. Central Street. The entire streetscape project is intended to provide improvements to both sides of Jackson Avenue from the end of the east ramp to Gay Street to Patton Street, to better accommodate pedestrians with the existing traffic patterns.

Phase 1 of the project includes widening the sidewalk, installing pedestrian oriented street lights, undergrounding the utilities, and providing an area for loading and unloading. The on-street parking in this stretch of W. Jackson Avenue will be eliminated as part of this phase (south side only). The majority of the sidewalk will be widened to approximately 16', with it narrowed down to approximately 7' where the loading area is provided near the intersection of W. Jackson Ave. and S. Central St. The proposed street lighting will be the same as the rest of the Old City (see attached image).

An accessibility ramp is necessary to provide access to a portion of The Daniel building, which will include a metal handrail (see the "Proposed Layout" sheet). The ramp will be 5' wide, which will leave approximately 11' of sidewalk clearance to the curb.
Staff Comments
Applicable guidelines:

Section 1.A.1. (PEDESTRIAN AND BICYCLIST SAFETY)
Consider pedestrians first, then transit, then the automobile in designing and developing downtown places. Public utilities and streetscape amenities should be located to support safe, convenient, and unimpeded pedestrian flow. Due to the nature of the narrow downtown streets with low traffic speeds it is relatively safe to bike within the downtown area. However, bike lanes and greenways leading to downtown, and places to store bicycles once downtown should also be considered. For more information, please see the Knoxville Regional Bicycle Plan (2002).

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GUIDELINES:
1a. Prioritize pedestrian safety and comfort through public amenities, such as pedestrian-scale lighting, benches, and trash receptacles.
1b. Require sidewalks and crosswalks that are accessible to all and are aesthetically pleasing.
1c. Create standards for sidewalks (including size and materials) that establish a sense of visual continuity.
1d. Widen sidewalks to accommodate street trees and amenities with a minimum 5-foot clear pedestrian passage.
1e. Establish a furnishing zone in which the sidewalk furniture creates a buffer for pedestrians from vehicular traffic.
1f. Adopt standards for types of sidewalk furniture, like benches, trash receptacles, newspaper stands, etc.
1g. Consolidate curb-cuts and locate driveways near mid-block, when necessary; alley access should be provided for service and parking, if feasible.
1h. Install and time traffic signals to maximize pedestrian safety and convenience.
1i. Provide safe bicycle connections to downtown and accommodate bicycle parking.
1j. Incorporate consistent, clearly marked bus and trolley stops and provide route schedules through signs or kiosks.
1k. Repair pavement surfaces (asphalt, brick, concrete, etc.) to original standards when underground utility or other repairs are necessary.
Applicant

City of Knoxville

Planning Staff
Mike Reynolds
Phone: 865-215-3827
Email: mike.reynolds@knoxplanning.org
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