The Springfield Historic Commission voted to accept an application to allow existing vinyl windows installed at 29 George Street to remain, finding a financial hardship tied to earlier fire damage and the cost of full historic-grade window replacement. The commission granted conditional approval that the current installed windows be retained now, and stipulated that any future window replacements must meet the commission’s historic-detail standards.

The property owner explained that the house had been boarded and contained vinyl windows when bought in 2016 and that the building suffered fire damage in 2023; the owner said they installed replacement windows to address the immediate need but sought the commission’s approval to avoid immediate, prohibitively expensive full historic replacement. The owner provided two contractor estimates and cited a $167,000 figure for full historic replacement as a hardship barrier.

Commissioners discussed the 2017 stop-work order and staff case history, and asked staff to clarify which windows are original and which were replaced. The commission’s approval recognized the owner’s cost hardship but made explicit that any future window replacement work must emulate original slim-profile, dark-colored historic windows (examples such as Anderson/Harvey slim-line wood or similar products were mentioned as acceptable contemporary options). The motion carried with four yes votes from commissioners present.