The former home of the world’s largest hedge fund may become home to 14 residential homes. Four would be deemed “affordable,” according to state guidelines.
As first reported by Westport Journal, the houses — built by an LLC that includes David Waldman, the developer of projects like Bedford Square and the Bankside condos — would be constructed on 3.7 acres in the northwest part of the 16-acre property, off Weston Road.
The proposed homes are shown at the top of the Glendinning property.
The homes at “Cottage Village at Glendinning Place” would be 3 bedrooms. The “affordable” homes (for buyers who make 80 percent of state median income) would be half the size of the market-rate houses.
The land — named for Ralph Glendinning, who built a 48,000-square foot modern office park there for his marketing firm in the 1960s — includes a pond and pathways. It is at the confluence of the Saugatuck and Aspetuck Rivers, and abuts Aspetuck Land Trust’s Leonard Schine Preserve and Children’s Natural Playground.
Bridgewater Associates moved out earlier this year. They consolidated their hedge fund operations at the Nyala Farm office complex, off I-95 exit 18.
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New to town? Newly retired? New empty nester? Inspired by the new year (school and/or Jewish) to do something new?
If you are interested in volunteering — but don’t know where to start — the Westport Library, Town of Westport and League of Women Voters of Westport can help.
On Saturday, September 23 (10 a.m. to 2 p.m.), the 3 organizations are teaming up to host an adult volunteer fair in the Library’s Trefz Forum.
Over 2 dozen community organizations will be represented. Each will have a staff member to provide information and answer questions.
The Library will also host a volunteer expo for teens on Wednesday, October 4 (4:30 to 6 p.m.), featuring local youth organizations with volunteer opportunities.
Organizations participating in the September 23 adult volunteer fair include: A Better Chance of Westport; AWARE; Center for Senior Activities; Club 203; Earthplace; FCJazz; Food Rescue; Friends of Sherwood Island; Guiding Eyes for the Blind; Levitt Pavilion; Staples Tuition Grants; Sunrise Rotary Club; TEAM Westport; Town of Westport; Verso Studios; Veterans of Foreign Wars; Wakeman Town Farm; Westport Book Shop; Westport Community Theatre; Westport Country Playhouse; Westport Emergency Medical Services; Westport League of Women Voters; Westport Library; Westport Permanent Art Collections; Westport Sunrise Rotary; Westport Woman’s Club; Westport Young Woman’s League; Westport-Weston CERT; Westport Weston Family YMCA.
There are countless ways to volunteer here. Food Rescue — picking up excess food, and delivering it where it’s needed — is just one.
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The Unitarian Universalist Congregation in Westport has a new transitional minister.
Rev. Alan Taylor will serve the congregation both from Westport and Oak Park, Illinois, where he and his family live permanently. He will preach 3 Sundays out of 4 — 2 in person, and 1 via virtual broadcast.
Rev. Alan will carry out his duties both in person in Westport, and virtually via email, Zoom and phone from his home office in Oak Park. He is serving in partnered ministry with UU Westport’s longtime minister of music, Rev. Ed Thompson.
Rev. Alan will first preach from the pulpit in Westport at this Sunday’s service (September 10, 10 a.m.). All are welcome to join in person or via livestream.
UU Westport’s previous senior minister, Rev. Dr. John Morehouse, has moved to a developmental minister role in a church outside of Philadelphia.
Rev. Alan Taylor
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The Westport Rotary Club hosted a board member of another outstanding group, at Tuesday’s meeting.
Ed Spilka of Wheel It Forward described their “lending library.” People who need durable medical equipment like wheelchairs, and related products can borrow them at no cost.
People with “lightly used” equipment can donate them too — helping others, and keeping what’s no longer needed out of landfills.
Ed Spilka of Wheel It Forward.
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Westport Police made 2 custodial arrests between August 30 and September 6.
One man was arrested after a resident reported that several checks worth $30,000 were returned due to insufficient funds, or account closed. The checks had been stolen, and attempted to be used to pay rent.
A man was arrested and charged with illegal possession of personal identity information, identity theft, and illegal trafficking in personal identity information. The incident began after a May 31 arrest at BevMax. A warrant was then obtained for a cell phone search. Evidence implicated the man in a larger, more complex fraud involving the purchase and sale of “high-end” liquor, using fraudulent credit cards. The scheme took place in many East Coast states.
Police also issued these citations:
- Traveling unreasonably fast: 11 citations
- Failure to obey traffic control signals: 3
- Operating a motor vehicle without a license: 2
- Failure to comply with state traffic commission regulations: 2
- Failure to carry registration or insurance card: 2
- Speeding: 1
- Failure to obey a stop sign: 1
- Operating a motor vehicle while under suspension: 1
- Operating an unregistered motor vehicle: 1
- Failure to carry a license: 1
- Operating a motor vehicle without minimum insurance: 1
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The Westport Country Playhouse “script in hand” season continues Monday, September (18, 7 p.m.). with “100 Saints You Should Know.”
Theresa (played by Tony Award winner Celia Keenan-Bolger) is a single mother with a rebellious teenage daughter. Working as a cleaner in a church rectory, she rekindles her religious beliefs and searches for validation from the priest.
But the troubled pastor, questioning his own faith, suddenly leaves the church and returns home to his protective mother. Theresa tracks him down, ultimately changing both of their lives.
All tickets are $25. Click here to purchase, and for more information.
Celia Keenan-Bolger
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A recent “06880” Roundup photo featured a series of holes dug next to the pedestrian path, leading from Old Mill to Compo Cove.
Property owner Jeff Northrop Sr. reports they’re for a new fence, identical to the one on the other side of the walkway.
A sign will say “Children and fishermen welcome.”
Northrop learned to fish there, as a child. “I want to keep it open access,” he says.
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Henry Wynne is one of 20 elite runners participating in Sunday’s 42nd annual Fifth Avenue Mile race.
The 2013 Staples High School and 2017 University of Virginia graduate — one of the greatest runners in Connecticut history — will cover the 20-block stretch of New York City far quicker than nearly anyone else can.
Of course, it helps that all the traffic lights will be green. (Hat tip: John Nathan)
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A motorcycle blaze sent the Westport Fire Department to the Westport Weston Family YMCA parking lot Tuesday afternoon.
Yesterday morning, this was all that remained:
(Photo/Dan Woog)
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Rock music, photography, art and fashion combine soon at WEST.
The Post Road East boutique hosts Michael Friedman for a discussion and signing of his very cool book “Exposed: The Lost Negatives and Untold Stories” (September 21, 6 p.m.).
The book is a treasure trove of up-close, personal — and excellent — photos of the musical icons the 1961 Staples High School graduate worked and hung out with, more than half a century ago.
You know: Janis Joplin, The Band, Kris Kristofferson, Rita Coolidge, Todd Rundgren, Paul Butterfield Blues Band, James Cotton, the Rolling Stones ….
Many were part of a 2019 exhibit at the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame.
A portion of the proceeds from the “Sound Exposed” WEST event, including 20% of limited edition print sales, will benefit Neighborhood Studio. The non-profit provides after-school arts education for Bridgeport youngsters.
WEST will also offer 20% off all clothing and merchandise at the event, plus giveaways like signed copies of Friedman’s book, and tickets to the Bridgeport “Sound on Sound” music festival.
“Sound Exposed” is free, but registration is required — click here.
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Kerri Rosenthal hosts an “Art of Beauty” event next Wednesday (September 13, 5 to 7 p..).
The Art of Beauty event on Wednesday September 13th 5pm-7pm.
Her favorite esthetic, Erin Meyers-Albaridi from New Beauty & Wellness, will discuss art, fashion and (of course) beauty. There’s a raffle and swag bag too.
It’s free, but RSVPs are requested here.
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The New York Times reports the August 17 death of Sarah Wunsch, at her Massachusetts home. She was 75, and suffered a stroke 3 years ago.
The 1965 Staples High School graduate “championed citizen protections on issues of race, gender and free speech and helped persuade New York’s highest court to declare that men could be prosecuted for raping their wives,” the Times says.
“As deputy legal director of the American Civil Liberties Union of Massachusetts for almost three decades, Ms. Wunsch brought innovative challenges before the courts, aimed at safeguarding a wide range of public behavior, including panhandling for small amounts of change, tattooing, wearing certain hairstyles in school and videotaping on-duty police activity.”
Click here for a full obituary.
Sarah Wunsch (Photo/Kathleen Dooher)
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Our “Westport … Naturally” feature celebrates all kinds of living things. We’ve run photos of deer (plenty), eagles (handsome), lanternflies (ugh) … you name it.
Today we feature a first: an orb-weaver spider, from Elisabeth Levery’s patio near Longshore.
It may not be particularly good-looking when you see it around your home. But Elizabeth sure makes it look interesting here.
(Photo/Elisabeth Levey)
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And finally … Gary Wright, the singer-songwriter with a couple of synthesizer-infused hits, died Monday in California. He was 80, and suffered from Parkinson’s disease and Lewy body dementia.
Another day, another Roundup, another “06880” post filled with all kinds of Westport (and Westport-ish) news. Please support our work. Click here to contribute. Thank you!
In such a huge round-up of 06880 news, I’m curious what the Gary Wright – 06880 connection might be?
There is none. Ever since COVID began 3 years ago, I’ve been including one or more songs at the end of the Roundup, for entertainment purposes. They can be tied to a Roundup item, or news of the day, or the death of an entertainer. I’m surprised you never noticed the songs before!
Sorry, Valerie, but I think your comment is unnecessarily harsh.
A Better Chance is life-changing for kids from underserved neighborhoods.
AWARE partners with non-profits that need help; the most recent was for women and families affected by incarceration in Bridgeport.
There are plenty of people without means at the Senior Center. Club 203 is for people with disabilities. Food Rescue brings food to pantries in (yes!) Bridgeport.
Staples Tuition Grants helps students in need attend college. The VFW does great things for veterans who need help. The Rotary Clubs raise funds for projects in Fairfield County, and the world. Westport Book Shop provides employment for people with disabilities. Westport Woman’s Club and Young Woman’s League give out hundreds of thousands of dollars to non-profits in Fairfield County (including, I am sure, “Bridgeport Rescue Mission, Neighborhood Studios, Lifebridge Community Services, Mercy Learning Center of Bridgeport, etc.”).
The YMCA offers scholarships to anyone in need. And you really think EMS is not a worthy cause?
Volunteering is not a zero-sum game. There is room for everyone, however they can help with their own particular interests and talents.
There are plenty of ways to volunteer in Westport. And in Norwalk, Bridgeport and Hartford. And on Native American reservations throughout the US. And Third World countries around the globe.
We need everyone. We don’t need anyone looking askance at any volunteer. Please do what you can.
I don’t understand the reference here to Jewish:
New to town? Newly retired? New empty nester? Inspired by the new year (school and/or Jewish) to do something new?
Newish ? Go Jewish?
Because the Jewish New Year is coming soon, and people often make resolutions to do things in a new year.
The resolutions are intrinsic. They are not material Theyvsre to become a better person. Better ethics. A better family member. A better neighbor. And to request forgiveness Prayer and asking for atonement along with charity are the concepts. I am no expert. If I blew it forgive me.
Regarding Jennifer Johnson’s photo of a vessel on the Sound…
This is the oyster boat Jeanne Christine. In the photo it seems as though she’s discharging a fluid overboard. It’s far more likely, however, that she’s spreading empty oyster shells, giving oyster larvae solid surfaces cling to. When these oysters have matured, they’ll be gathered by dredge for market.
Long Island Sound oysters are some of the best. (Opinion only)
Bob Boulware
Former Westporrter, Staples Class of 1964
The Wunsch family is a wonderful Westport family! Although I never met Sarah, we did exchange an e-mail at one time, and her brother, who comments here sometimes, graduated from Staples in 1956 with my deceased cousin, Stanley Backiel.
This development is completely outrageous.
From the people who brought you five years of construction to deliver unsellable luxury penthouses on the Saugatuck River, there is now a new project on the Saugatuck riverfront, the pithily named “Cottage Village at Glendinning Place”.
Developers for CVGP submitted a plan to the Westport P&Z commission, which in addition to reopening the former Bridgewater Campus as multi-tenant office space – its current permitted use – include 14 (FOURTEEN!) single family homes on a 3.7 acre subdivision on the property, including a new road to increase car access to accommodate more homes. Each of these homes will occupy former woodland that is adjacent to the amazing Leonard Schine Preserve, of the Aspetuck Land Trust, one of the foundational properties for the ALT. These properties will be set back from the preserve by a whopping 10 or so feet, so it certainly will not affect the enjoyment of this beautiful and pastoral area of our town.
Maybe you are one of our neighbors who enjoys the wonderful Saugatuck River Trout Management Area, at the confluence of the Saugatuck, The West Branch and the Aspetuck Rivers, right where the Jennings Trail notes that the British Soldiers forded the Saugatuck on the famous Compo Raid in 1777. I’m sure you would like to know that the developers wish to put in 14 new septics, and add approximately 100,000 square feet of non-permeable roads, roofs, and driveways draining into this fragile floodplain, wetland environment.
Or, maybe you are a citizen of Westport or Weston concerned about this project affecting traffic on Weston Road, which routinely backs up for over a mile at morning and afternoon rush, even with Glendinning Place currently unoccupied? Don’t worry! The developers commissioned a study that states that only an additional 10 to 13 cars will leave or come into the access point during those times, with a fully occupied multi-tenant office building and 14 new homes.
The developers are so proud of this project that they have given residents of the area just a few days notice prior to their P&Z review on Wednesday. This all sounds like a good faith effort to make a another development that benefits our town and our community, from a developer with a history of bulldozing through environmentally sensitive projects with questionable financial rationale.
I’m sure this will turn out just fine…