In the past, most of MPC’s preservation awards have gone to projects in fairly stable areas, like Downtown and the restoration of the Tennessee Theatre and Mast General Store. However, in the case of this evening’s winning projects—two Washington Avenue properties—conditions were far from ideal. The houses had been condemned. Many architectural details had been removed. Where families once lived, the houses had been divided into 15 separate boarding units. After being abandoned, they continued as places for criminal activity.
Knox Heritage saw an opportunity to renew this block, and with the assistance of HGTV and the National Trust for Historic Preservation embarked on a three year quest to resuscitate these Victorian-era homes.
Several architects were responsible for the exterior improvements, including Perry Childress and Randall DeFord. A restored house only becomes a home with room-by-room refinishing. The interior designers included Susan Ballard, Robert Marlino, Dwayne Disher and Esther Golightly. High Oaks Construction was the contractor and the Ross Fowler firm was responsible for the landscape design.
Truly this was a team success.
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