Our long blue nightmare may be over.
The sale of 233 Hillspoint Road — site of the former Café de la Plage and Positano restaurants, but for the past several centuries decades years a half-finished, Tyvek-wrapped, litigation-snarled residential property that’s been an eyesore and headache for neighbors and passersby — closed last week.
Work has already begun to finish the home.
It may take a while. But whenever it’s done, all of “06880” will rejoice.
(Photo/Totney Benson)
(Photo/John McKinney)
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Meanwhile, there’s more going on in that historic neighborhood.
Old Mill Grocery & Deli by Romanacci has posted its menu online — and it’s an extensive one.
There are many lunch and dinner favorites from the popular Railroad Place restaurant, plus lots of breakfast items. Catering options are available too. Click here to see.
A grand opening is set for this Saturday (February 10, noon to close). “Celebrate with us, and taste a slice of Italy,” say the new operators, who had a soft opening last month in their newly renovated space — which dates back to 1919.
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The Downtown Plan Implementation Committee has a full agenda for tomorrow’s meeting (Thursday, February 8, 8:30 a.m., Town Hall Room 201).
It includes: parking lots reinvention; downtown lots design master plan; Parker Harding status; Jesup and Imperial lots; other projects status, Avery Street pole removal, and sustainability.
To contact the committee, email: DPIC-comments@westportct.gov.
On the Downtown Plan Implementation Committee agenda: the Imperial Avenue parking lot. From 2020-22, it was the site of the Remarkable Theater drive-in. This photo shows a COVID drive-in concert, sponsored by the Westport Weston Chamber of Commerce. (Drone photo/John Videler for Videler Photography)
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It’s been a big month for Jane Pimentel.
On Monday, the Board of Selectwomen unanimously granted her — as owner/operator of Longshore Sailing School — a 1-year extension to her contract.
An RFP for a longer contract will be posted this summer.
A few days earlier, at US Sailing’s National Sailing Programs Symposium in Savannah, Georgia, Pimentel received the Sail Training Service and Support Award in honor of Virginia Long.
The award — commonly called “The Ginny” — goes to an individual who “unselfishly assists and enables a sailing program or sailing instruction in a supportive role.” Recipients’ “outstanding efforts improve sailing education programs and instruction in the United States.”
US Sailing said Pimentel “has seemingly made it her dual mission to create new sailors while simultaneously improving the level of instructor training in her region…. Longshore Sailing School puts over 1,000 junior sailors and 250 adults on the water annually, with many coming by way of scholarship. Many adults also go on to become instructors at the school.
“Much of her success is due to the culture she’s created. As all good leaders do, Pimentel has established a staff culture of continuous improvement, collaboration, and empowerment, understanding that accountability and compassion go hand in hand.” (Click here for more information. Hat tip: David Loffredo)
Jane Pimentel, with her Ginny Award.
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Valentine’s Day came early for members of Club 203 — Westport’s great group for adults with disabilities.
They partied at the Westport Country Playhouse’s Lucille Lortel barn, where they enjoyed heart-shaped pizzas from Planet Pizza, music by DJ Joey, a “sweet” art project organized by MoCA, and mountains of pink and red desserts by Avery Horne.
Volunteers — including some from the Westport Rotary Club — joined the fun.
Dylan Curran and friends, at Club 203’s Valentine’s party.
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Speaking of Valentine’s Day: With so much contention in our town and country, the Democratic Women of Westport want to show a little non-partisan love.
This Saturday (February 10, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.), they’ll be outside Anthropologie, offering hot chocolate and cookies to all.
They’ll also have Post-Its, for people to share what they love about Westport. The DWW will hang them up, for all to see.
It’s their “valentine to our town.”
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In a town filled with fundraisers, it’s tough to stand out.
The Westport Woman’s Club has found a unique — and very fun — way: a “Death by Bathtub Gin” murder mystery dinner.
On Saturday, March 23 (6 p.m.), their Imperial Avenue clubhouse will be transformed into a Jazz Age speakeasy.
A professional troupe of Broadway actors will guide 100 guests through a hunt for the “murderer.” It may well be one of them.
The night includes cocktails, hors d’oeuvres and a 3-course Italian dinner, as the “murder mystery” unfolds.
Flapper dresses and tuxedos are welcome. A photo booth will have “jazzy” accessories for all. There’s a silent auction too.
Tickets are $150. Proceeds help fun scholarships, grants and food gift cards — continuing the Woman’s Club’s 100-plus years of service to the community.
Call 203-227-4240, or email wwc@westportwomansclub.org for tickets.
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Calling all 6th through 8th grade boys who dream of playing on the Staples High School varsity team!
On Sunday, February 18 (8 to 10 a.m.), the Wreckers will host a clinic at the PAL Longshore ice rink.
Head coach Matt Bohn, his staff and current players will lead skill drills and small area games. Attendees can then watch Bohn lead a varsity practice.
For the final half hour, any current or prospective player (of any age) can sign up to “Skate with a Wrecker” during an open session. Beginners are welcome.
The program is sponsored by Westport PAL and is free, but pre-registration is required. To reserve a spot, email wreckerhockey@gmail.com
Staples High School 2023-24 boys hockey team.
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Attention all veterans coping with PTSD and anxiety: Westport-based The Harmonetiks Project‘s mind/body workshops can help.
Classes begin February 27, and will be held Tuesdays at Harmonetiks (420 Post Road West, at 9 a.m., noon and 6:30 p.m. Classes are limited to 12 in-person; there is an online option too.
Westport acupuncturist and energy medicine specialist/coctor of Oriental medicine Jeffrey Zimmerman provides the treatments and self-help workshops for veterans, teaching them concrete tools to support their well-being.
Harmonetiks exercises dial down the body’s “fight/flight or freeze” response, and transition to a state of ease and harmony.
For more information, calll 203-349-5374.
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Amy Simon Fine Art has moved.
Their new home is not far — just a few yards east of the old location, to 155 Post Road East (opposite Design Within Reach).
They’ve transitioned to a showroom with full inventory, rather than a public gallery space. They’ll be open by appointment: 203-259-1500.
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Remy romps at Compo, in today’s “Westport … Naturally” photo.
Enjoy it, little guy. In 53 days, you’ll be banned from the beach.
(Photo/Becky Keeler)
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And finally … country music star Toby Keith died Monday. He was 62, and in 2022 was diagnosed with stomach cancer. Click here for a full obituary.
(“06880” has covered the blue house story — and many others — for years. If you enjoy our work, please click here to make a tax-deductible contribution. Thank you!)
Reading that menu at Old Mill Grocery & Deli literally made my mouth water. Can’t wait!!
Adding spots at lots to take them away from Parker Harding is like a magic trick. Parker Harding was built and paid for by the building owners, the building owners on that side of Main Street, and was the reason Westport became a prime shopping destination. Swapping out spots for far away locations so that parker harding can be made into a water front park is very manipulative scheme, i wont name names, lets just say their interests are not, how shall we say it, aligned elsewhere. Dont fall for the rabbit in the hat with a bat trickery — about to be proposed
You are correct Todd.
It is not less parking we need in town. It is more.
That means a choice between businesses and a vibrant downtown, or a riverwalk.
The merchants have spoken, all of them almost without exception. They cannot survive without their shoppers and patrons able to find parking in reasonable proximity to their shops.
I’m not sure why this seems to escape DPIC, except that they just do not care.
We have suggested a boardwalk built out over the river.
But the problem is, this is not about safety, or fire, or flood mitigation as it is now being conveniently labeled.
A bit of green space is not going to make Parker Harding flood free. At least so say 90% of experts.
There are several parking spots which might impede a fire truck. So get rid of those spots. Add without question ADA etc.. but we must maintain the one way system with the angled parking and just do maintenance on PH and on jesup.
We already lose spots on church land when it is closed off. That adds hugely to the parking burden borne by the entire town to the advantage of only the restaurants on church land.
Now the same committee who had it closed off more or less indefinitely is calling for removing parking in both PH and jesup.
It is not less parking we need but more.
Next why is the Imperial lot not the first lot to be fixed.
It is a disheveled mess. Hasn’t seen proper if any maintenance for decades upon decades.
Imperial must be fixed first.
It must be fixed before the other lots so we can start to encourage parking there.
It must and makes all the sense in the world to fix it first,
Why this makes sense ?
1: It will be the least impact to traffic during construction
2: it is the least expensive lot to fix by far and in a year where we are spending massive amounts of money on a new school, possibly a much needed firehouse, a much needed police building, it would seem that those should be prioritized.
3: Once renovated, it is going to provide about 150 albeit remote parking spots serviced by a shuttle bus, which during any maintenance of jesup and of Parker Harding, after imperial, will ease the burden on parking so that merchants and our customers, who have ALL clearly spoken up will be able to park somewhere during any construction of the 2 lots in town.
4. By fixing the imperial lot first, it will put more distance between the near financial ruin many merchants faced after covid, and allow themtry and recover sufficiently to withstand the terrible financial burden the closure for many months of either of those lots will cause due to not only eventual lost spaces, but also during construction total closure of the lots. At least if we have a renovated IMPERIAL to fall back on during construction of PH and Jesup it will make all the difference in the world.
5: Simply because IMPERIAL is one of the 3 left to renovate and why not tackle it first for all the above reasons.
6: The most important reason IMPERIAL must be completed first, the Parking inventory is a catastrophe. To now spend copious amounts of money to try and show P&z that they plan on ONE DAY ? WHEN?, WHO KNOWS? adding a few paltry shrunken spots at a different lot when that could be 1-5-10 years off, doesn’t fix the day to day problem we have. This move by DPIC is like a holy Mary.
It is to justify by showing a future plan with a few added spots, which might never come to fruition considering all the projects on the table ( far more urgent) in an effort to get away with the 8-24 taking away parking from PH.
So show us a renovated IMPERIAL, add 150 real spots to real inventory not some far away time in the future, because we won’t be there. We will have all gone bankrupt waiting for spots that are promised and imagined.
A shuttle bus provided by the town, and paid for out of the massive property taxes the merchants all pay for, in full via their NNN payments to their landlords( or property owners). It is not the landlords who pay property taxes on Main Street it is the lesees, with the minor exception of properties not on NNN leases.
I plan on sitting down tonight and starting to look at the exact amount of property taxes the merchants pay on Main Street. I have the list.
Oh and it will be interesting to then look at what maintenance is costing and an exact dollar amount budgeted for out of the total Main Street ( downtown) property tax number.
I’ve long wanted an accurate number to double check, are merchants WAY MORE than paying their fair share. Or are merchants getting away with murder. I believe they are contributing a huge sum in property taxes, and will in coming days have a precise amount.
THE IMPERIAL LOT MUST BE BUILT FIRST.
The new menu at the Old Mill Grocery & Deli looks great! But…wheres the bacon egg and cheese sandwich?
I am hoping DPIC is able to livestream their meeting so those at work, out of town, dropping off kids can observe and even send in comments.
These 8:30 meetings on a weekday are difficult, especially with such a large subject and topic being discussed impacting all residents, patrons and merchants both in and out of Westport.
Recalling the silk purse and the sow’s ear, that piece of shit at 233 Hillspoint is now and will, forever, be an overbearing ugliness on an otherwise beautiful neighborhood. Cannot believe that someone voluntarily bought it.
Probably the same bunch of clowns that bought the Baron’s property. It’s going to be the largest ADU (check out Dan’s lead article this AM) in Fairfield County.
It was a cute gorgeous restaurant and should have stayed that way.
All about the $$$$$$$$ unfortunately.