Everyone talks about historic preservation in Westport.
But — as homes and buildings as old as 200 years, and as new as 20, fall to the wrecking ball — what are our greatest protection needs?
The Westport Historic District Commission recently received a Historic Preservation Enhancement Grant from the State Historic Preservation Office.
Funds will be used to hire a consultant to prepare a town “Preservation Plan.” It will identify and prioritize the greatest areas of need for historic preservation.
The plan will also will help establish and prioritize more Local Historic Districts and Local Historic Designations.
Gorham Avenue is one of Westport’s Historic Districts.
According to Historic District Commission vice chair Grayson Braun, the HDC strives to “preserve and protect the distinctive characteristics of buildings and places significant in the history and development of Westport; maintain and improve the landscape and neighborhood settings of these buildings and places; and encourage design compatible with buildings extant in the area to continue to maintain Westport’s greater artistic, cultural, commercial and residential character which distinguish the town as a desirable community for permanent residents and visitors.”
Properties within a Local Historic District have a higher degree of protection. The HDC must approve an application for alteration to a historic structure, as well as any new construction within a district.