Oakwood and Lincoln Park Community Survey

James White Parkway (Rename downloaded file to pdf)

Fort Dickerson Park Redevelopment Concept

Oakwood - Lincoln Park Community Survey

The University of Tennessee Department of Urban and Regional Planning in conjunction with the East Tennessee Community Design Center and Metropolitan Planning Commission is developing a neighborhood plan for Oakwood/Lincoln Park.

Your cooperation in completing the following survey will greatly assist the planning effort.

Springdale Avenue as it appeared in the early 1900's

History, Architecture, and Neighborhood Characteristics

Students in the Graduate School have studied the history and characteristics of the neighborhood. As you move into the survey questions, highlights of the neighborhood's history and development will be presented.

Oakwood as it was during development in 1905

Oakwood History:
Oakwood was created in a forested setting on the urban fringe of Knoxville in the early 1900s. The land, which was previously owned by Sophia Churchwell, was purchased and developed by C.B. Atkin for workers at his nearby mantle factory and Coster Shop rail yards as well as others who commuted downtown.
Water, sewer, and sidewalks were part of the early development, which were unusual elements of residential developments in this era. A trolley line provided a connection to downtown. By 1906, there were several hundred residents and the Oakwood school opened its doors that year. After a brief incorporation, the neighborhood was annexed by Knoxville in 1917.

The Oakwood Trolley	Oakwood School

Oakwood in the early 1900's

Lincoln Park:
This neighborhood was started in the late 1800’s. The mineral springs, located in the vicinity of the present Lincoln Park school. The original Lincoln Park school was located at Atlantic and Kenyon Aves. The dummy railroad line, which served the neighborhood, became part of the city’s trolley system, following annexation in 1917.

H1: Do you know of other sources of information about Oakwood or Lincoln Park?

Oakwood - Lincoln Park, an Architectural History:
With frame building techniques of the late 19th century, various architectural styles became popular in the neighborhood. Most of the early homes were built in Victorian era styles.

Folk Victorian Style	One Story Queen Ann Style

Oakwood Today:
The homes in Oakwood were generally one-and-one-half-stories and covered with clapboard. Many homes have retained their original appearance.

L-shaped Folk National Style	Hipped Roof Folk National

Lincoln Park Today:
In Lincoln Park, there was greater architectural variety. The homes were built for a wider range of families, some belonging to businessmen, others belonging to factory workers.	Two-story Queen Ann Style
As the 20th century progressed, new architectural styles emerged, including the craftsman style (sometimes referred to as the Bungalow) and the Four Square style.

Craftsman Style	Four Square Style

H2: In which part of the neighborhood do you live? (record the closest intersection)

Downzoning:
Much of Oakwood/Lincoln Park is zoned General Residential (R-2), allowing apartment buildings. Other portions of the neighborhood are zoned Single Family (R-1). Some residents have expressed desires to keep the single family character intact. One method of doing this is to downzone many areas to R-2 to R-1 zoning.

H3: Would you support Downzoning?

Yes No

Design Considerations:

There are various kinds of design consideration that contribute to the appearance of the neighborhood. Some of these include, setbacks, porches, foundation heights, and roof shapes. The following slides depict different variations of these design considerations.

This illustration shows how a lack of design consideration of common setbacks, foundation heights, and roof shape within a neighborhood can cause new structures to look out of place. Not only is the ranch style house too low, its roof pitch and setback do not complement the adjacent houses.

Porch Modifications:
Porch modifications can contribute or detract from the appearance of a home.

Some people find this porch inappropriate.	Some people find this porch more appropriate.

Window Replacement:
New windows can sometimes be out of character with the style of an older home.

Some people find these windows inappropriate.	Some people find these windows more appropriate.

Exterior Covering:
New exterior materials used on an older home can conflict with the general style of the neighborhood.

Some people find this siding inappropriate.	Some people find this siding more appropriate.

Fencing:
Fencing can disrupt the visual character of older neighborhoods.

Some people find this fencing inappropriate.	Some people find this fencing more appropriate.

Design Considerations:
New multifamily buildings can be built to conform to the distinct style of a neighborhood. This is an apartment building in Chattanooga that was designed with porches, a roof-line, and exterior materials that are similar to older houses in the neighborhood.
	This photo reflects on how a house in a historic overlay zone can appear with proper restoration.

H4: For your section of the neighborhood, which of the following statements best represents what you would want to see in the future?

H5: What would you like to see in your neighborhood? (Check all that you would like to see.)

Siding consistent with the architecture and historic period
No parking in front yards
Windows and doors consistent with the architecture and historic period
Consistent setbacks for single and multifamily housing
Guidelines for fences in front yards
Foundation height in keeping with architecture and historic period

Other concerns regarding architectural and historic features (please list):

Community Facilities in Oakwood and Lincoln Park:
Community facilities, such as parks, walking trails, and playgrounds, provide a valuable asset to neighborhoods. We have identified three opportunities within the Oakwood/Lincoln Park area.
1.Chickamauga Greenspace opportunity:
This includes open space near the railroad tracks between Lincoln Park United Methodist Church and Shorty's. Another opportunity is greater use of the grounds of Lincoln Park School. A third potential improvement is more sidewalks and paths, providing a walking loop within the neighborhood.

P1: Do you feel these opportunities should be further explored?

disagree strongly disagree neutral agree agree strongly

2. Oakwood School opportunity:
The Oakwood School site could be reclaimed to offer a green space and playground for the neighborhood.

P2: Do you agree that the playground opportunities that were lost at Oakwood and Lincoln Park Schools are missed?

disagree strongly disagree neutral agree agree strongly

3. St. Mary's Walking Paths opportunity:
Some residents and hospital personnel have expressed the desire to have more sidewalks and walking trails around the St. Mary’s area, providing greater safety and a means of exercise.

P3: Do you feel the St. Mary's opportunity should be further explored?

disagree strongly disagree neutral agree agree strongly

Partnerships could allow access to more open spaces within the neighborhood. Examples include portions of school or hospital grounds, former warehouse or industrial sites such as Kelso Oil yards.

P4: What other park and open space opportunities should be considered?

P5: What do you feel is the highest priority?

P6: What keeps you and/or your children from using parks?

P7: What recreation facilities are needed for adults?

Walking Trails
Tennis Courts
Bicycle lanes on streets
Places for horseshoes or similar games
Benches to sit and relax
Other:

Transportation and Street Design in Oakwood and Lincoln Park:
Residential Street Design:
The design of residential streets offers another avenue to beautify the appearance of a neighborhood. This diagram depicts both a pedestrian and automobile friendly atmosphere with sidewalks, street trees, and on street parking.

T1: Do you agree that sidewalks and landscaping should be extended on Chickamaugua?

disagree strongly disagree neutral agree agree strongly

T2: Are there other streets where you think sidewalks should be extended?

Sidewalks:
This picture depicts the incomplete sidewalk network within the neighborhood. An interconnected pedestrian network can create a more cohesive neighborhood.

T3: Rank the following alternatives in terms of how they appeal to you (1 is most appealing):

Continuous concrete sidewalks on both sides of the street (most costly).

A continuous concrete sidewalk on at least one side of the street (costly).

A separated asphalt sidewalk on one side of the street (least costly).

Alley Parking:
Alley parking can be problematic in older neighborhoods. These pictures provide two alternatives to alleyway parking. The first picture is in Nashville, while the second is within the neighborhood.

Potential Relationship Between Streets and Alleys:
On street parking can obstruct the visual relationship between the homes and the roadway. This picture shows homes in the Island Home neighborhood, which does not have a problem with on street parking.

Garages and Alleys:
The diagram and corresponding pictures depict three different options for alleyway parking:

A	B	C

T4: Do you agree that there should be standards for garage locations off of alleys?

disagree strongly disagree neutral agree agree strongly

Front Oriented Parking:

A	B

T5: On a scale of -10 (very bad) to +10 (very good), please rank A and B.

A

B

Parking:

T6: Do you agree that parking on sidewalks and planting strips are problems in the neighborhood?

disagree strongly disagree neutral agree agree strongly

T7: Do you feel that residents are trying to protect their vehicle by parking in such a manner?

Yes No

Street Trees:
Street trees provide a pleasing neighborhood environment. This picture from the neighborhood shows a lack of street trees. This diagram is from the MPC Street Tree Plan and provides several options for trees.

Present	Alternate

T8: Do you feel that street trees should be planted in your section of the neighborhood?

disagree strongly disagree neutral agree agree strongly

T9: If trees were provided free or inexpensively, would you plant a tree?

Yes No

Truck Traffic:
Some residents feel that truck traffic is a problem in the neighborhood. This picture depicts the danger to cars parked on the street within the neighborhood. The truck traffic could be shifted to other streets to lessen the negative impact.

T10: Where do you feel the greatest conflicts exist between truck traffic and the residential area?

T11: Do you agree that such traffic calming solutions as the "bulb-out" depicted here could improve the neighborhood?

disagree strongly disagree neutral agree agree strongly

T12: Truck access along the North Avenue corridor (instead of Morelia) is a potential solution; should this be explored?

Yes No

Traffic Calming:
Traffic calming can increase safety within residential neighborhoods for both pedestrians and drivers. There are a various traffic calming alternatives. These include speed humps, clearly marked crossings, and roundabouts.

T13: Do you feel that traffic calming should be explored?

disagree strongly disagree neutral agree agree strongly

Mass Transit:
Mass transit has a long tradition in the neighborhood. Ridership is now dependent on KAT buses. The routes within the neighborhood are depicted by this diagram.

T14: How often do you use mass transit in your neighborhood?

T15: If you RARELY or NEVER use transit, what improvements would get you to use the bus system?

T16: If you have other concerns regarding transportation, including streets, railroad lines, sidewalks, or beautification, please take a few moments to write in your comments.

Name (optional):

Address (optional):

Email address:

If you do not care to give your name and address, please provide the name of the nearest intersection to your house or business.