Historic Zoning Commission approves exterior restoration at 346 East Main Street

The Murfreesboro Historic Zoning Commission on Aug. 19 unanimously approved an application to repair and restore exterior trim, dormer siding, porch elements and related architectural details at 346 East Main Street, a Queen‑Anne–style house listed on the National Register of Historic Places as the Brynn Roberts home.

Planning staff told commissioners the property contains roughly 0.6 acres and had previously received administrative and commission approvals in October 2024 for roofing and gutter work; the current application expands restoration to exterior railings, sunroom walls, dormer trim, window and door trim, and screen doors.

Applicant and contractor Mike Chavis told the commission crews uncovered extensive rot while installing the approved roof and gutter work and that the requested scope is intended to restore exterior pieces “first and foremost, to restore, to keep all the materials on there that are still viable.” Chavis described sunroom walls with water intrusion, deteriorated dormer vents and louvers, and damaged trim around windows as primary areas of repair.

Chavis said the project would reuse or replace features with like-for-like profiles where possible, sourcing several profiles from SledgeCraft and using Red Grandis (a durable, paintable hardwood) for trim elements. He said proposed screen doors would be mahogany from Vintage Woodworks and that, if replacement dormer siding is required, crews might use a fiber‑cement product (Hardie or similar) or locally milled siding from Haney Family Sawmill in Liberty, Tennessee.

A substantial subtopic in the discussion was the porch railings. The applicant proposed replacing the existing balustrade-style rails with a single-piece architectural panel; several commissioners preferred a board-and-batten option that better echoes interior paneling and nearby historic elements. Commissioner Jim Thompson urged the board-and-batten approach, saying it “looks more like the railing system” and would be preferred over a flat panel. The commission accepted the board-and-batten option during the motion.

The application also includes proposed changes to dormer siding exposure: staff noted the dormers currently read at about a 4-inch reveal and that the replacement siding would be a wider lap siding with a proposed 6-inch reveal to correct proximity issues between siding and shingles.

A motion to approve the work as submitted — with the clarified acceptance of the board-and-batten railing — passed on a roll-call vote with all members voting aye.

Next steps: the applicant may proceed with the approved restorative work and material sourcing described to the commission; staff will continue to monitor that installed profiles and materials match the approved submittals.