$2.5M Hinsdale Home May Get Torn Down

HINSDALE, IL – Historic houses continue to get torn down in Hinsdale, which some see as progress and others consider detrimental.

On Wednesday, the village's Historic Preservation Commission is set to consider approval of the demolition of the house at 225 E. First St. It is in the Robbins Park Historic District.

The new owner is proposing a new house in its place.

The 6,000-square-foot existing house sold last year for $2.5 million. It is 2½ stories and includes five bedrooms and 5½ bathrooms.

A large addition was built on the east side of the house in 1989, according to the village.

Built around 1900, the house is classified as a "contributing structure" in the historic district.

At a previous meeting, commission members said they were against the demolition of a contributing structure.

The new owner, Joe Ghaben, is planning a 9,300-square-foot house with a brick veneer and an English country-style frame. It would also feature a four-car garage, a pool, an attached pool house and a covered porch.

During the last meeting, Ghaben was asked whether he would preserve any historic artifacts from the house before the demolition. He said he would be willing to pull windows and doors and donate them, according to the village.