The Hinsdale Historic Preservation Commission voted unanimously July 7 to recommend that the Village Board add seven properties to the village's historically significant structures list following a public hearing and staff presentation.

The recommendation covers 201 North Clay Street; 311 Forest Road; 134 North Lincoln Street (the Terracotta House); 15 North Monroe Street; 136 South Oak Street; 32 West Ogden Avenue (the former Fresh Air Home); and 234 East Third Street. The commission will forward its recommendation to the Village Board for final action.

Bethany, a preservation staff member, opened the hearing and presented brief histories and eligibility reasoning for each property. "So tonight, we are here to review 7 additional properties for our historically significant structures list," she said, noting that the list would top 100 properties if the Village Board affirms the commission's recommendation. The commission discussed architectural styles, construction dates, known architects or owners, and prior survey findings for each property.

Highlights from the presentation and commission discussion:
- 201 North Clay Street: Built about 1926 in the American Foursquare style. The parcel is in the R-4 district and retains much of its original form, aside from a rear addition and an enclosed front porch; the commissioners said it meets criterion 3 (architectural distinction).
- 311 Forest Road: A 1940s Colonial Revival built by A.E. Anderson with an architect listed as Robert C. Swanson; the house was previously identified as contributing in local surveys and was judged by commissioners to meet architectural-criteria.
- 134 North Lincoln Street (Terracotta House/Gates House): Constructed in 1894 and fully clad in terracotta. Bethany said the home's original owner was William Day Gates, founder of the American Terracotta and Ceramic Company, and that the packet included material from the Hinsdale Historical Society. Commissioners indicated the property likely meets multiple eligibility criteria for architecture, age and association with a notable person.
- 15 North Monroe Street: Circa 1930 Tudor Revival (cottage Tudor) with a one-story side and rear addition added in 1977; commissioners noted it meets architectural-criteria.
- 136 South Oak Street: Built about 1912 in a Craftsman/Colonial Revival mode. The current owner located original architectural blueprints; staff said the architect has been identified in some sources as William Barfield, and the owner also found a safe stamped with the name John C. Wood, a former village president. Commissioners flagged multiple criteria for this property.
- 32 West Ogden Avenue (Fresh Air Home): Dating to about 1852 and associated historically with the Fresh Air Home program that brought underprivileged women and children from Chicago to the countryside for seasonal rest; the commission emphasized the building's age and social-history significance.
- 234 East Third Street: Circa 1895 Queen Anne residence that appears in prior surveys (1999 and 2002) as historically significant; commissioners recorded it as meeting architectural-criteria.

After the staff presentation and brief discussion, a commissioner moved to recommend Village Board approval of all seven properties under case HPC-13-2025. The motion passed on a roll-call vote with all commissioners present voting in favor: Commissioner Barclay, Commissioner Harlow, Commissioner Elder, Commissioner Olsen and Chairman Bonin (5-0). The commission then closed the public hearing and will forward its recommendation packet and supporting documentation, including historic-survey citations and owner-provided materials, to the Village Board for final consideration.

No members of the public spoke at the hearing. The commission also approved the minutes of its June 4 meeting earlier in the session and handled routine business (a plaque dedication is scheduled for July 15).