Downtown – Cleveland, Tennessee (2015)
Cleveland is a vibrant city in southeastern Tennessee, serving as the county seat of Bradley County. Known as a major regional manufacturing hub with a rich history, it functions as the principal municipality of the Cleveland metropolitan area. The city effectively blends classic Southern charm, a low cost of living, and immediate proximity to abundant outdoor recreation.
A marquee with Art Deco-styling has the name of a prior business “Cooper’s” while it appears the use beneath it has long since changed. Keeping historic elements like this add to the richness of the built environment. When well constructed they have greater staying power.
A Sousa Band Grand Concert occurred in Cleveland on January 30, 1906, at the Craigmiles Opera House.
Geometric flags in the foreground mirror the rectangular building in the background. The use of tinted concrete in the center of the street crossing further accentuates this as an important place for pedestrians to cross and drivers to yield to them.
This two-story building has parapets with a corbelled cornice beneath and stone accents. The ground floor has a wood shingle awning, likely added in the mid-20th century as part of the environmental movement in design.
This recessed storefront has ample display window space for the business to show off their products and wares. Utilization of the forest green color on the door and ceiling contrasts nicely with the rich reddish brown tile.
This two-story building has some traditional details, particularly on the storefront enclosure, but the second floor has a row of windows, more along modern lines. The lack of detail at the coping level further reinforces this as an essentially modern building.
Gardner’s Market has a nice traditional feel with a sweeping touchable awning. The window is accented with painting to display the product inside. One feature that stands out is commercial advertising on the umbrella out front. That detracts from the messaging and visual identity of the locally owned market. Many municipalities ban branded umbrellas like this.
The brick building is near the intersection of Broad Street NW and 2nd Street NW. This multi-story brick structure stands directly across from the historic Broad Street United Methodist Church campus and features traditional brickwork alongside a distinctive stone perimeter retaining wall. This pocket of downtown is heavily characterized by its preserved mid-19th to early 20th-century institutional masonry style, situated just blocks from the main square.
Regularly spaced benches make this section of sidewalk more walkable by giving frequent places for people to sit. The backs and arms for these benches make them more welcoming and accessible for older adults.
St. Luke’s Episcopal Church is located at 320 Broad St NW in downtown Cleveland, Tennessee. Constructed in 1873, this striking Victorian Gothic Revival structure is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The church is famous for its intricate interior woodwork, beautiful stained-glass installations, and a three-story brick bell tower. The church was funded and commissioned by wealthy local businessman John Craigmiles as a monument dedicated to his daughter, Nina, who tragically passed away in a carriage accident at age seven. Located immediately behind the church is the white Carrara marble Craigmiles mausoleum. It is the center of a famous local legend due to mysterious red, blood-like streaks that permanently stain the marble exterior, despite frequent professional cleanings over the past century. This has given it the title the “Bloody Mausoleum.”
The southern entrance of the Lee University campus is located at the intersection of North Ocoee Street and Central Avenue. The buildings pictured are central to the university’s communication and arts programs: This prominent two-story Communication Arts Building (left) is a 40,000-square-foot brick building features a distinct columned facade and wraps around the corner of Ocoee and Central. It features a 200-seat black box theatre, a television studio, video editing suites, and a student journalism lab. Pangle Hall (right) is a beautifully repurposed former church sanctuary now used as a premier performance and lecture hall for campus events.
Here where a storefront is vacant, a collage of historical images create some visual interest for pedestrians. The downside is 100% coverage like this makes it harder to see the space inside for people who might be looking to open a business.
Princess Parties effectively brings their color palette out on to the sidewalk with their blade sign centered over the building entrance, and the two toned furnishings in their display windows. Even if the window space is not used by their customers, it creates a sense of arrival and entry.
This unusual marker downtown celebrates the central importance of family, recognizing husbands, siblings, and children of Ruth Regina Flannigan. Born in 1917 and died in 1985, she had 15 children and two siblings. Service was an important theme of her life, with her name carried on a building downtown.
The gray stamped concrete block building was constructed during a limited time after this particular material and texture came out. It was unique and highly regarded enough that entire buildings were constructed with it. Later, this material was relegated to primarily foundations and basements only.
The historic Fillauer Brothers Building, is located at 75 Bobby Taylor Avenue (1st Street NE) in downtown Cleveland, Tennessee. Constructed in 1911 by brothers John B. and William Fillauer, this distinct three-story yellow brick structure sits directly across from the historic Bradley County Courthouse square. It was officially added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1989. Originally built to house a silent movie theater (the Moneta Theater) on the west side and a hardware store on the east side, it was meticulously restored in 1987. Today, it serves as home to the Bank of Cleveland. During the massive 1980s restoration, the building’s original hardwood floors and pressed-tin ceilings were restored. A rare, historic rosewood piano dating back to circa 1860 was discovered inside during the renovation process and remains prominently on display in the bank’s main lobby.
This one-story modern building with storefronts set at an angle to the street, has articulated awnings overhead that slightly divide each unit from another. One thing that could be improved is providing space for signage ahbove the awnings, or on the valance.
This sidewalk, while narrow, shows how an intimate space can be created with mature trees, varying materials and textures of the paving, and activating storefront windows.
The Spot restaurant seeks to create a cozy environment through window painting to illustrate what is within. The downside of this approach is it limits visibility inside. People like to see inside so they know what to expect when they are entering. Covering windows up turns a window into a wall and may deter customers.
The historic Cleveland Masonic Temple is located at 60 2nd Street NE. Home to the Cleveland Masonic Lodge No. 134 F&AM (chartered in 1848), this multi-story brick structure features classical commercial architecture mixed with fraternal organizational motifs. The white stone lintel over the central entrance reads “MASONIC TEMPLE”, marking its historic civic footprint in the area. Located just off the main courthouse square, it stands right down the street from the historic Fillauer Brothers Building and Bank of Cleveland.
