Springfield staff get clearance to demolish unstable rear garage at former Oak Street fire station

The Springfield Historic Commission voted to authorize demolition of a one‑story brick garage that was added to the rear of a former fire station on Oak Street, after city staff said the masonry addition is structurally unstable.

City preservation staff presented photos and an explanation that the rear garage, built of unreinforced masonry and set into a steep slope, is serving as a failing retaining wall. Peter Garvin, representing the City of Springfield, and contractor Jim Anifin described buckling, cracking and leaning walls; Garvin said the roof framing supported by those walls is sagging and “long term no longer stable.”

Garvin said the addition appears to have been an outbuilding (he described it as a former horse or hay barn) and that the masonry cannot withstand the lateral forces from roughly 4–5 feet of soil behind it. He told the commission the city intends to make masonry and roof repairs to the remainder of the building and to advertise the property later by request for proposals for future reuse.

A public comment period produced no speakers opposed to demolition. A resident, Stephanie Burrell (48 Clarendon Street), asked about ownership; Garvin confirmed the City of Springfield owns the property and said any future reuse would be solicited through an RFP process. The contractor told the commission work on the remainder of the structure would include masonry repairs and weatherproofing prior to reuse.

Commissioners moved and passed the authorization; the chair announced the motion carried. The commission recorded a unanimous affirmative vote in favor of the demolition motion.

The commission did not place additional preservation restrictions on the remainder of the structure at the meeting. Staff indicated the intent to perform repairs to the original building fabric and to return with implementation details if needed.