The Worcester Historical Commission on Oct. 9 approved a demolition‑delay waiver to allow replacement of a damaged railing on the porch at 10 Institute Road, with a stated preference for in‑kind wood materials and an allowance for composite if a curved wood railing cannot be sourced.

Owner Dave Stead said the front porch railing was damaged in a small fire before his June purchase and that the affected section is about 10 feet long. Stead and contractor Mike Conan discussed using a composite (Trex) product that can be custom bent to match the existing curvature; commissioners and staff said in‑kind wood is easier to approve but allowed composite as a fallback if an acceptable wood solution cannot be located.

Commission staff noted that the repair is typically grandfathered and that bringing the entire railing to the current 42‑inch code height would be disproportionate for this single repaired section. Staff offered to coordinate an on‑site meeting with the building inspector to confirm code interpretation and details.

After discussion, the commission voted by roll call to approve the demolition‑delay waiver with the preference for wood and the allowance for composite if an appropriate curved wood option could not be found.