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Commission denies after‑the‑fact renovations at Old North Knoxville house
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Summary
The Historic Zoning Commission denied, with prejudice, after‑the‑fact exterior work at 1520 Fremont Place — requiring reapplication with windows, trim and siding that meet Old North design guidelines while offering after‑the‑fact acceptance of chimney removal and the new deck.
The Knoxville Historic Zoning Commission voted April 16 to deny an after‑the‑fact application for substantial exterior work at 1520 Fremont Place in Old North Knoxville, concluding replacement windows, siding and other changes did not meet neighborhood design guidelines.
Staff told the commission that the property owner had removed original wood windows and trim, installed vinyl windows with internal grids and applied smooth fiber‑cement siding in patches, and that the chimney was removed without a certificate of appropriateness or permit. Staff recommended denial with prejudice of the installed windows, the enclosed second‑story window opening and the siding, and denial of the proposed front door; staff recommended after‑the‑fact approval for the chimney removal and the new deck. "Almost all the work has already been initiated or completed," staff said in its report and recommended the applicants reapply with new window proposals that meet Old North design guidelines.
Applicants Charity Honeycutt and Amanda Furlough told the commission they were renovating the house as a personal project and said cost and condition drove their choices. "One of the main reasons, honestly, cost that was associated with the windows," Honeycutt said, adding the existing windows had termite damage and were leaking. She said she and a design partner could not afford full wood replacements and believed matching sizes and pane divisions made the work acceptable.
Neighborhood representative Sean Bolen said the neighborhood had reviewed the application and agreed the current work "violates our guidelines tremendously," urging replacement of the windows, siding and door consistent with staff recommendations. Permitting staff summarized enforcement steps: inspectors visited the property on March 11, March 20 and March 26 after complaints; staff issued a notice of violation when work continued; plans review was opened but no complete drawings had been submitted as of the meeting. The inspector said further penalties — citations to municipal court — are possible if violations persist, and that citations can carry fines up to $50 per day.
Commissioners discussed whether a faux chimney should be required; staff noted the commission could modify the staff recommendation if it wished. After debate, a commissioner moved to deny the application according to staff recommendation (denial with prejudice of the window, siding and door work, with after‑the‑fact approval of the chimney removal and new deck) and the motion was seconded and approved by voice vote.
The commission instructed the applicants to reapply with documentation showing window specifications, revised trim details and siding materials that align with Old North design guidelines. The planning and permitting departments will not issue building permits for affected scopes until a certificate of appropriateness is granted.
