Hinsdale preservation panel approves demolition at 305 S. Garfield, conditionally OKs replacement with added masonry

The Hinsdale Historic Preservation Commission voted Thursday to approve demolition of a single-family house at 305 South Garfield Street and to grant a conditional certificate of appropriateness for a replacement home that must include additional masonry on the north facade and west gable.

The applicant, Sylvia CS, told the commission the structure has “suffered severe water damage, mold, and long-term neglect due to extended vacancy. It is no longer viable in its current state.” She and architect Brad Lewis of Shorts Architects described revisions to reduce window sizes, remove a window bridge, reorient garages to the east and add a porch and gas lantern to better fit the neighborhood.

Commissioners debated whether the house could be saved. One resident argued in favor of rehabilitation, saying professionals can sometimes “bring something from the brink,” while several commissioners said an accumulation of contemporary fenestration on new homes is eroding the character of the Robins Park Historic District. One commissioner summarized the concern as: “this fenestration thing really... pushes the envelope in the wrong direction,” saying such trends could jeopardize the district’s designation.

The commission first voted to approve demolition of the existing building under case HPC-5-2026. Later it moved, seconded and approved a certificate of appropriateness to construct the proposed single-family home with conditions that specifically call for additional masonry on the north facade and the west gable end. The roll-call votes recorded Commissioners Barkley, Gonzalez, Elder, Olsen and Chairman Bonan as voting in favor of both motions.

Staff told the applicant that under the code the conditions are advisory but must be accepted in writing within 10 days of the decision; if the applicant does not accept the conditions within that period, the approval will be treated like a denial and the applicant may appeal to the village board. Staff also said it will work with the applicant during the permit process if the conditions are accepted.

During discussion, commissioners and neighbors recommended material adjustments — for example adding stone or limestone window lintels and raising the stone base in portions of the north facade — and the architect said those options could be incorporated in revised permit details. The commission and staff also raised practical concerns about construction staging: contractors must apply for temporary street-parking permits, and the applicant agreed to avoid deliveries during school pickup/drop-off times because the lot sits near a middle school.

The commission’s decisions are advisory for final village actions only if the applicant declines the conditions; staff will notify the applicant of the conditions and next steps. If the applicant accepts the conditions in writing within 10 days the permit and building-review process will proceed; if not, the matter may be appealed to the village board.