Village rejects certificate of appropriateness for new home at 223 E. Eighth in Robins Park historic district

HINSDALE, Ill. — The Hinsdale Village Board on Tuesday rejected a certificate of appropriateness to construct a new single‑family home at 223 East Eighth Street in the Robins Park Historic District, following concerns by the Historic Preservation Commission about the proposed design’s fenestration.

The historic preservation commission had unanimously approved a certificate of appropriateness to demolish the existing house but earlier voted to deny the COA for the new construction, citing the house’s large vertical windows and the view that the design did not reflect a recognized historic architectural style.

At the village board meeting the applicant submitted revised plans after the HPC denial; those revisions added a center panel on two front windows and replaced portions with brick, but the owner declined other recommended changes such as shutters, double‑hung windows and a revised center dormer.

Several trustees and an HPC commissioner who attended the meeting reiterated concerns about front fenestration and overall compatibility with the historic district. The board then voted on a motion to approve the COA; the motion failed and the board recorded five nays, rejecting the application. Trustees who voted “nay” included members of the board who had expressed concern at the HPC level.

Because the board did not approve the COA, the applicant will pursue standard building permit timelines and options under the village code but will not receive a board‑level COA to proceed with the proposed new construction as designed.

The board’s action closes the COA process for the proposed design but leaves the demolition approval intact; any revised design would need to return through the HPC process.