Panel rejects demolition of historic Prospect Terrace home

Other Committee · Meeting of September 17, 2026

SPRINGFIELD — The Springfield Historical Commission voted 5-0 to keep a demolition delay in place on a historic house at 10 Prospect Terrace, blocking the city's plan to raze it for school parking. Manuel Russell, representing the city's capital asset planning effort, said the four-unit, post-Civil War building must come down to fit a new elementary school serving about 630 students at Chestnut and Prospect streets. Commissioner Coffey called it "extreme" to demolish the historic property for roughly 20 parking spaces, and Commissioner Nardi noted no structural report supported the demolition beyond a pest-infestation notice.

The Springfield Preservation Trust and a contractor who previously worked on the house also weighed in during public comment. Commissioners Nardi, Walter Kroll, Judy Kroll, Walsh and Coffey all voted no on lifting the delay. Separately, the commission voted unanimously to find an adverse impact on a Wayfinders project at 56 Bay Street after the state's historic commission automatically approved it by missing a 30-day review deadline.

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Source: the Other Committee meeting of September 17, 2026, reported from the official video recording and transcript.

Checked against the record: before publication this article was automatically compared with the meeting transcript. It was corrected where it differed.