What may be Westport’s last large open residential lot has been sold.
Two boldface names are involved in the transaction.
Marc Lasry — the billionaire hedge fund manager and former Milwaukee Bucks co-owner, who lives on Beachside Avenue — bought the 12.3-acre 109 Morningside Drive South property for $7 million.
The seller — Wildflower Haven LLC — is run by Shonda Rhimes. She too lives elsewhere in Westport. Rhimes bought it in 2022, for $5.925 million.
For many years before that, it was owned by the Kowalsky family.
Lasry tells “06880” that he has 5 children, and may build homes there for 2 or 3 of them. The land will not be subdivided for a dozen homes, as many Westporters feared when it was on the market.
But nothing will happen soon.
“There is absolutely no rush,” Lasry says.
109 Morningside Drive South is the vast open space at the center of this aerial view. It is bordered by Clapboard Hill Road and Turkey Hill Road South.
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Walking around town is treacherous, after the weekend’s snow.
This is the scene on Post Road East, near Turkey Hill Road North and Harvest Commons:
(Photo/Peter Swift)
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Meanwhile, the Westport Downtown Association has this message for residents:
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Tired of being cooped up indoors?
Friends of Sherwood Island State Park is hosting a “Love Yourself, Get Outdoors” event on (appropriately) Valentine’s Day (February 14, 11 a.m. to 12:15 p.m.)
Linda Gottlieb of FitTraining will lead the session. Organizers say: “Practice green exercise. Experience ‘forest bathing.’ Learn to use the ‘nature pyramid’ to guide your exercise.”
It’s free, and everyone is welcome. Dress in layers; it’s windy at the bach.
Questions? Call Call 203-247-1390.
Linda Gottlieb at Sherwood Island.
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If recent weather has you thinking of warm sun: Head to VFW Post 399 on Thursday.
This week’s “Jazz at the Post” features The Caribbean Jazz Connection. Its leader — drummer Jim Royle — has been crossing genres of jazz and Caribbean Latin styles for years.
The band includes his former student and steel pan player Bryan Garbe. The Fairfield native is now an internationally acclaimed percussionist; bassist John Mobilio, and pianist Dave Childs.
Shows are 7:30 and 8:45 p.m. Dinner begins at 7. Click here for tickets, and more information.
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For the next few days, our “Westport … Naturally” feature will include photos from Sunday’s snowfall.
This one comes from Jay Petrow. No surprise: He’s a landscape architect.
(Photo/Jay Petrow)
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And finally … happy birthday, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart!
In just 35 years, he wrote over 800 pieces, in virtually every classical genre: symphonic, concertante, chamber, opera and choral repertoires. He is considered one of the greatest composers in the history of Western music.
(“06880” is nearly 17 years old — half of what Mozart was when he died. We’re not comparing ourselves to him. But we do work pretty hard. Please click here to support our efforts. Danke schön!)
Wolfgang can certainly wake you up ‼️❤️
114 South Morningside Drive is directly across the street from the former Kowalsky property. We moved there around 1960 and my father had the house built for $40,000 dollars.
what is 1960 $40000 equivalent to today ?
It’s approximately $439,000.
The two acres were actually free because my father and uncle bought 8 acres and sold four two years later for what they paid for 8. My uncle had the two acres on the corner of Morningside and Clapboard and we had the two acres next door. So $40,000 was for the house and property. FrankLabbance (sp) built the house. Frank Stack painted it. Both we knew from the bowling alley.