Knox Heritage - Restore America Open House

MEET THE DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION TEAMS OF THE RESTORE AMERICA HOUSES DURING AN OPEN HOUSE EVENT, OCTOBER 27, 2007
Barber Homes Also Included In The Parkridge Home Tour, October 28

Knox Heritage is pleased to offer an opportunity for the public to tour two George Barber houses after seven months of comprehensive work. The houses, located at 1618 and 1620 Washington Avenue in Parkridge, are recipients of a Restore America grant from HGTV and the National Trust for Historic Preservation. On Saturday, October 27, from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., Knox Heritage opens the doors to welcome visitors for a final look at the transformative project before the houses are offered for sale. This Open House will showcase the homes’ interiors, including furnishings and finishes, and the design and construction teams will be present to talk about the process.

The two Restore America houses are part of the annual neighborhood home tour, “Spirits of Park City,” on Sunday, October 28, from 1:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. Six other homes also will be open for visitors to view impressive restoration projects and enjoy the hospitality of neighbors in Parkridge.

Tickets for Saturday’s Open House are $10.00, and advance tickets for Sunday’s “Spirits of Park City” are $10.00. A special two-day ticket, valid for both events, is available in advance for $15.00. For further information about the combination ticket or about Saturday’s Open House, call Knox Heritage at 865-523-8008. Information about the “Spirits of Park City” event is available online at www.parkridgecommunity.org

Many of the design and construction professionals will be at the Barber houses on Saturday. Designers include Susan Ballard, ASID and Robert Marlino of Smee+Busby Architects; Randall De Ford of C. Randall De Ford Architecture; Dwane Dishner, Allied Member of ASID and President of Dwane Dishner Designs; award-winning kitchen designer Ester Golightly, ASID; and Margaret Ann Jeffries, PhD, Dept. Head of Engineering & Media Technologies at Pellissippi State Community College. The contractor for the project is High Oaks Construction, led by John Wampler.

Knox Heritage received $50,000 from HGTV in partnership with the National Trust for Historic Preservation toward the complete rehabilitation and restoration of the Barber houses. Cash and in-kind donations totaling over $230,000 have been contributed toward the work on these historic structures. Nearly $550,000 has been invested in the project, which will result in the transformation of two vacant and blighted eyesores into owner-occupied homes adding to the vitality and diversity of the Parkridge neighborhood.

The Restore America houses, built circa 1890 and 1905, were designed by Knoxville’s most famous Victorian-era architect, George Barber. Barber, who gained renown for establishing one of the top mail-order architectural firms in the country, designed the two single-family homes in the classical style popular at the turn of the 20th century. Homes designed by Barber were built throughout the country and the two homes on Washington Avenue represent the architect’s early and late work, respectively.