In May, the Westport Arts Center and a group of arts advocates presented a pre-application to the Planning and Zoning Commission.
The goal was to create an “arts campus” at the Baron’s South property. The 3-prong proposal included these ideas:
- The Westport Arts Center would lease and restore Golden Shadows — the main building that served as the home for Baron Walter Langer von Langendorff (“The Baron”) — retaining most of its decorative interior, for use as offices, classrooms and gallery space.
- The WAC would lease and restore the Tudor revival guest house at 70 Compo Road South as additional gallery space.
- They would lease the 2 units at 52 and 52B Compo Road South, for use as artists’ residences.
The P&Z was not thrilled with the plan. They called the plan too intense for the “light use” for which the 32-acre property is zoned.
Many Westporters, on the other hand, thought it was great. “06880” was flooded with positive comments.
Golden Shadows: the centerpiece of the Westport Arts Center Baron’s South plan.
(Photo/Wendy Crowther)
The whole idea of a pre-app meeting is to get a sense of the P&Z’s mood. The WAC and arts advocates listened to the commissioners.
Tomorrow (Thursday, July 6, 7 p.m., Town Hall) they’ll present a formal proposal. They’ve reworked the use of the artists’ residences, and other concepts.
They also hope to show that the work they’ll do on-site will help the public enjoy all the open space surrounding the arts campus.
The meeting is open to the public.