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Historic Zoning Commission approves replacement of four dormer and gable windows at 746 East Main Street
Summary
The City of Murfreesboro Historic Zoning Commission approved Pella wood double-hung replacement windows for four lower dormer and gable windows at 746 East Main Street after hearing that full restoration would cost roughly $29,000–$30,000 while the factory Pella option was presented at about $17,000 and includes a lifetime warranty.
The City of Murfreesboro Historic Zoning Commission approved a request to replace four lower windows at 746 East Main Street with Pella wood double-hung units after staff and the applicant presented repair and replacement options.
The commission considered a deferred application from property owner Jonathan Harmon. Staff member Amelia introduced the item and said the house sits in the local historic zoning overlay district and the CCO District. Applicant representative Mike Chavez of Chavez Construct LLC presented a scope of work for rebuilding and restoring four lower windows and said one lower sash is missing, requiring replication rather than a simple repair.
Why it matters: commissioners must balance the goals of restoring historic fabric with practical constraints including the condition of sash and muntins, availability of old-growth materials, and cost. Chavez told the commission that full repair would require about 789 man-hours and, using an illustrative hourly rate range, produced an estimate of roughly $29,000–$30,000 for the set of windows. By contrast, he said the proposed Pella wood units in the packet "would be about $17,000 and come with a lifetime warranty and meet energy code and building code." The applicant said the proposed product is wood inside and out (not a clad product) and would match the existing divided-light appearance (a 10-over-1 configuration).
Commission discussion focused on whether original materials could be saved, repurposed, or stored. One commissioner asked whether the original panes and muntins could be preserved for future use; Chavez said existing muntins and sash are "very distressed" and that putty is failing in large chunks, but the contractor intends to salvage and repurpose original material where feasible and recommended storing salvaged components on-site or locating a repository for reclaimed material. Commissioners also noted that several dormer openings lack weight pockets (making full mechanical restoration difficult) and that some upper panes are broken and would require replacement regardless.
A commissioner moved to approve the solution presented—replacement with the proposed Pella wood double-hung windows for the four lower portions of two dormers and two gable-end windows; another commissioner seconded. The chair called the roll: Mister Backlund, Miss Bolden, Miss Brown, Mister Busey and Vice Chair Belcher each voted "Aye." The chair announced the motion passes, 5–0.
No further staff approvals were reported. Staff apologized for not yet scheduling a working meeting to discuss the commission's design guidelines and said they hope to set it soon. The chair then adjourned the meeting.
Next steps: the applicant may proceed with the approved replacement per the commission's approval; staff indicated they will continue coordinating design-guidelines work but gave no specific timeline at the meeting.
