Historic rehab at 210 S. 17th in Fort Sanders approved with conditions

The Knoxville Historic Zoning Commission on Sept. 18 approved a certificate of appropriateness for a rehabilitation project at 210 South 17th Street in the Fort Sanders neighborhood.

Staff recommended approval of application 9c25HC, describing an interior and exterior rehabilitation that would remove aluminum siding, install fiber‑cement siding with a diamond pattern on the front gable, reestablish previously enclosed windows, reconstruct an original open front porch on the same footprint and add a second‑story rear addition set below the primary roof line. Staff said remaining original exterior fabric should be retained and that porch supports should be at least 10 inches square, with final design submissions returned to staff for review.

John Holmes, the applicant, told the commission he preferred a quarter‑light door on the front rather than the half‑light panel proposed and said the house’s cornices and returns are original and will be repaired and replaced rather than removed. “I think Mark's got a good summary there,” Holmes said, and confirmed the team would reuse historic brick for the reconstructed foundation.

Commissioners asked about the material under existing aluminum siding and the replication of corner boards and window trim; staff noted original wood clapboard and tongue‑and‑groove elements in some areas and recommended replicating corner boards with 1x6 smooth fiber‑cement to match the façade details. No neighborhood comments were received on the application.

A motion to approve the COA based on staff recommendations was made and seconded; the commission voted in favor and the motion passed unanimously.

The presiding official reminded the public that appeals of commission decisions must be filed in Chancery Court within 60 days of the meeting. The COA approval is subject to the conditions spelled out by staff, including the submission of final elevation drawings and the required engineering/parking documentation.