Historic Fort Worth School Renovation Delayed
Owners of properties in Fort Worth's historic districts should expect commission review before exterior window or roof work begins.
Updated on Oct. 31, 2026 in Administration
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Fort Worth ISD sought approval to renovate the former De Zavala Elementary building in Fairmount, which now houses Daggett Montessori, a kindergarten through eighth-grade school. The Historic and Cultural Landmarks Commission pushed the case to November.
Why it matters
The building sits within both the Fort Worth Historic Cultural District and a national register historic district, so exterior changes require commission review before work can proceed. The delay means the district must supply more detail on window work before the project can move forward for Fairmount families and nearby property owners.
The proposal includes new windows, a new roof and two small additions to the Fairmount building. FWISD sought to remove nonhistoric windows and install new ones, with aluminum exteriors and wood interiors.
The players
Fort Worth Independent School District (FWISD)
The large public school district that operates Fort Worth's campuses and sought approval for the De Zavala renovation.
Historic and Cultural Landmarks Commission
The city body that reviews exterior changes to protected historic buildings and districts in Fort Worth.
Daggett Montessori
A kindergarten through eighth-grade Montessori school that moved into the De Zavala building in May.
The details
FWISD asked commissioners to approve removing nonhistoric windows and installing replacements, with aluminum finishes on the exterior and wood on the interior. Commissioners pushed the case to November because the plan lacked enough detail on the window renovations. FWISD staff said they will monitor the building's cleaning as work moves forward.
Timeline
May: Daggett Montessori moved into the De Zavala building.
Oct. 12: The renovation case was introduced at the Landmarks Commission meeting.
November: The commission will consider the pushed renovation case further.
The Home Front
Historic district designations in Fort Worth require commission review for exterior changes such as window replacement and roofing. Projects in protected areas often face longer review timelines than work on unprotected properties.
If you live near the Fairmount building or own a historic property in the district, check whether your exterior work requires commission review before you start. Contact the city's historic preservation staff early to confirm what documentation the commission expects for window replacements.
The takeaway
Exterior changes in Fort Worth's historic districts need commission approval, and incomplete plans can add months to a project. Keep detailed window and material specifications on file if you plan work on a protected property.
What happens next
The Historic and Cultural Landmarks Commission will take up the De Zavala renovation case again in November.
Further reading
For more on how school districts manage their facilities and approvals, see Administration in Fort Worth education coverage.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Fort Worth Report.
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