The Parkridge community contains a large portion of historically significant architecture contributing to the Edgewood/Park City National Historic District, part of the U.S. National Park Service’s National Register of Historic Places.
The National Register supports “public and private efforts to identify, evaluate, and protect America’s historic and archeological resources.” Historic districts and properties listed on the National Register are the “official list” of places especially deserving of attentive care and preservation.
The Edgewood/Park City National Historic District encompasses several city blocks north of Magnolia Avenue and south of Interstate 40, with a particular focus on East Fifth Avenue, Washington Avenue, Jefferson Avenue, and Woodbine Avenue. It is nationally renown for its remarkably well-preserved collection and concentration of residences designed by Knoxville’s self-taught, turn-of-the-century architect George A. Barber.
Edgewood / Park City Map via Knox County Geographic Information System (www.kgis.org)
The Park City Historic District represents the physical, social and economic forces that were present in Knoxville between 1880 and 1940.
The Edgewood/Park City National Historic District was formally established on October 25th, 1990 after an extensive research effort documenting “contributing properties,” examples of architectural significance throughout the neighborhood. The contributing properties warranted the area’s unique designation as a National Historic District.
Details of that research effort are available from the National Park Service’s record of eligibility for listing on the National Register. An official copy of the determination of eligibility is available from the National Park Service (PDF Document, 2 MB).
Edgewood/Park City Historic Preservation Planning Efforts in the 1990s
The neighborhood’s special status on the National Register of Historic Places is further strengthened by a local Historic Planning Overlay implemented by the Knoxville/Knox County Metropolitan Planning Commission’s “Historic Zoning Commission.”
The Edgewood/Park City Historic Planning Zone was established in 1998.
Continuation of Historic Preservation Efforts in the 21st Century
In Fall 2015, 25 years after the National Historic District was first listed on the National Register of Historic Places, the Parkridge Community Organization Board of Directors recommended that the local Historic Planning Zone be extended to include additional city blocks within the National Historic District that are not yet protected by local, city historic preservation zoning regulations.
More information on this new initiative is available within the “Planning” portion of this site.
A draft revision of the Edgewood/Park City Design Guidelines can be found here: Edgewood-Park City _NEW Design Guidelines_draft 1. This revision is still open for comments. Please contact Kaye Graybeal with questions about the design guidelines.
Kaye Graybeal, Historic Preservation Planner, MPC
Parkridge Community Organization 