Murfreesboro, TN - Historic downtown is going modern, business owners and residents fear, with a retail and condominium development proposed for the southwestern corner of West Main Street and North Front Street. “I am really excited that there are people wanting to make a significant investment into downtown,” said former Murfreesboro City Councilman Bill Shacklett, who co-owns Shacklett’s Photography on the Public Square, adding that a building with softer lines would better complement downtown. “Something less modern, I think, would be more appealing,” he said.
Majestic Development wants to construct the six-story building at 315 West Main designed by Gresham Smith & Partners on the half-acre site that would contain 46 condominium units, 8,850 square feet of commercial space and a three-level parking garage. The California-based developer is asking the city of Murfreesboro to rezone the now vacant lot from central business district to a planned unit development to allow for a taller and higher density development that is allowed in its current zoning classification.
The CBD zoning allows buildings with a maximum height of 75 feet and one dwelling unit per 2,500 square feet of lot area for lots less that one acre. A public hearing before the Murfreesboro Planning Commission is slated for Nov. 7 at 7 p.m. in the Council Chambers on the first floor of Murfreesboro City Hall at 111 W. Vine St. Shacklett said he hopes city officials and the architects on the project will listen to public input. He encourages those with an interest downtown to attend the public hearing and contact planning commission and city council members. “That is really part of the process,” Shacklett said. “Not only for residents to give input but for them to listen.”
Many downtown business owners and residents who have attended informational meetings on the proposed development are in favor of more high-end retail and living space downtown. “Everyone recognizes that 315 West Main is a huge step forward, and the start of a new wave of change,” said Van West, executive director of the Center for Historic Preservation at MTSU. “Interjecting new life into downtown is very welcome. But it is only logical and appropriate that the community is informed fully before decisions are made.”
He wants to see how the large building will “fit” into downtown and if it would obscure the view of the historic courthouse on the hill overlooking downtown. “It is not a difficulty for the firm (Gresham Smith) to pull together new digitalizations that would show how the building relates to its surroundings and how it impacts the view,” West said, “and I think the community should defer its support until those views are generated.”
Most in attendance at informational meetings on the project don’t like the harsh lines of the building, its staggered roofline and proposed building materials. West said the building has an “industrial aesthetic design.” A rendering of the building shows light gray limestone on the first two floors and a combination of red brick and dark gray polished stone or block on the remaining four floors. The residential units will have balconies that face West Main and Front streets.
The roofline of the building is staggered and has cornice trim. “The building itself, the street level — what you see walking by — fits in well with downtown,” said Chris Gerbman, who along with his wife Karen own Country Gourmet and The Clay Cup on the Public Square. “The stories above are a little more modern than what I was expecting.”
Architects on the project said they used the look and materials of existing downtown buildings as inspiration for the design. David Powell, an architect on the project, told the Murfreesboro Post that as of right now, the design of the building will not change. Gresham Smith and the developer will wait to hear input from the planning commission. Downtown resident Melinda
Source: murfreesboropost.com