Members of the Burke and West Springfield communities were invited to review the plans of Sunrise Development, LLC to build an assisted living facility on the property of the Silas Burke House. The meeting was held Tuesday, Feb. 24 at the West Springfield Government Center.

Sunrise Development has applied for the property to be rezoned to accommodate the more densely populated living space they intend to build.

Though some have expressed concern for the well-being of the nearly 200-year-old former residence of Silas Burke himself if a new building were to go up nearby, Sunrise’s proposal includes a guarantee that the house, “accessory structures” like the iconic windmill and immediate surrounding property, will be protected and maintained.

“The neat thing there is we’re able to preserve the Silas Burke house in perpetuity,” said Supervisor Pat Herrity (R-Springfield), “without a big investment from the county, in a very tight fiscal time.”