‘Fragile & Fading’: Knox Heritage names JFG sign among places needing preservation

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (WATE) — Knox Heritage has released its annual “Fragile & Fading” list, highlighting structures and properties in Knoxville that are at risk of being lost forever.

Every year, Knox Heritage releases the list, calling for immediate action to protect the at-risk structures. The effort aims to conserve resources by rehabilitating existing structures, protect and celebrate Knoxville’s beautiful structures and architectural heritage, boost local economy by growing heritage tourism, and strengthen community bonds by connecting people to shared history.

Much of this year’s list was included in Knox Heritage’s Fragile & Fading list in 2023 , however, the JFG Coffee Signs, the Paul Howard House, and the Mechanicsville Historic Neighborhood were newly added this year.

“Public feedback is really taken to heart as we consider the sites that we list and you know a great example of that this year is the JFG signs,” Knox Heritage Executive Director Cristine Cloninger explained. “We really listened to the community and decided that it was important for us to highlight these landmarks. Even though we haven’t listed a sign on this list before, so this is a new venture for us, we felt like it was really important to the community and therefore really important for us to raise the collective voices of people that wanted to see those restored.”

This year’s “Fragile and Fading” list includes:

Fading Fast

• The JFG Coffee Signs
• The Paul Howard House
• Lord Lindsey at 615 W. Hill Avenue
• Standard Knitting Mill
• Knoxville College

Still Fragile

• West View Cemetery District
• The Parkridge Historic Neighborhood
• The Fort Sanders Historic Neighborhood
• The Mechanicsville Historic Neighborhood

To learn more about the properties listed on this year’s Fragile and Fading list, visit Knox Heritage’s website.

This year’s list also included two buildings in a “Moving Forward” category: The Howell House at Knoxville Botanical Gardens and Arboretum and the Griffin School on Beech Street. Cloninger explained that this category highlights the sites that are improving. Lacey Mellott, Director of Development and Communications for Knox Heritage, explained a bit of the progress happening at the Griffin School.

“This property was at risk and purchased by Knox Heritage and over the years, through negotiations and working with private buyers, we’re able to now put this in the category of moving forward. Developers are working on affordable housing at this site and it’s just one example of how these resources, this ability to work together to find solutions can lead to results that impact the community in a positive way,” Mellott said.

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