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Design Review Board

Level 1: Sign

4-D-15-DT

Install a new 9 square foot internally illuminated projecting sign, centered above the open storefront below (see the attachments). The sign will be powder coated aluminum (cabinet and black portion of sign face) and acrylic (white letters and boarder on sign face). The illumination will only be visible through the white portion of the sign face. The sign will be mounted below a metal bracket.

The sign will have an approximate clearance with the sidewalk of 11'-9" and will be at or slightly above the cornice above the former storefront opening.

Location
120 S Gay St
Applicant Request
Install a new 9 square foot internally illuminated projecting sign, centered above the open storefront below (see the attachments). The sign will be powder coated aluminum (cabinet and black portion of sign face) and acrylic (white letters and boarder on sign face). The illumination will only be visible through the white portion of the sign face. The sign will be mounted below a metal bracket.

The sign will have an approximate clearance with the sidewalk of 11'-9" and will be at or slightly above the cornice above the former storefront opening.
Staff Comments
This building is located in the Southern Terminal & Warehouse (National Register) Historic District. The sign must be reviewed by the design review board because of the internal illumination, which is not recommended by the guidelines within a national register district.

There are other illuminated signs on the 100 block of Gay Street that, including Sterchi Lofts (adjacent) and Knox Mason, Holly's 135 and Cru. This block is unique for Gay Street because it is one of the few that has street trees, which help minimize the visibility of illuminated signs over a long distance. The illumination from this sign should have minimal impact on adjacent residences because of the existing ambient light from street lights and the larger, adjacent Sterchi Lofts sign.

Applicable guidelines:
Section 1.C.7. (RECOMMENDED SIGNS)
Commercial establishments need to advertise. However, advertising signs should be effective and appropriate to historic areas without contributing to visual clutter. Primary concerns are a sign's location, size, material, and illumination.
GUIDELINES:
7a. Locate signs above storefront windows, below second-story windows on the sign board, or on the storefront windows themselves (30% is maximum coverage), or off the front of the building as a projecting sign (maximum size: 9 square feet).
7b. Create signs that are proportional to the building where they are located.
7c. Do not light signs internally.

Section 2.B.1. (RECOMMENDED SIGNS)
These recommendations for signs in the traditional grid district recognize that certain types of signs are more pedestrian-friendly and should be encouraged within the grid district.
GUIDELINES:
1b. Projecting signs of modest size (9 square feet, maximum); a larger sign must be approved by the board.
Applicant

JAO Productions, LLC

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