Tag Archives: Beachside Avenue

Saying Goodbye To The Bedford Estate

Posted on March 13, 2015 | 33 comments

The Bedfords giveth.

And the Bedfords taketh away.

One of the town’s most philanthropic families — think the YMCA, schools, the Westport Woman’s Club and much, much more — has long owned property on Beachside Avenue.

But Ruth Bedford died last June, at 99. Now her estate, at 66 Beachside, is slated for demolition.

Bedford demo

The sign notes that 3 buildings are intended to be torn down. All are 114 years old.

The Bedford family also owns a 2-story house at 225 Green’s Farms Road, opposite the Nyala Farms office complex. It too was built in 1900.

And it too is slated for demolition.

33 Comments

Posted in People, Places, Real estate

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A Moveable Feast

Posted on September 29, 2013 | 1 comment

For decades, a concession stand sat at Southport Beach.

Hurricane Sandy uprooted it. Controversy — over insurance, permits and aesthetics — followed.

A day before it was — perhaps — to be demolished, it was moved. It ended up a few yards over the Westport line, on Beachside Avenue.

Now — as John Karrel’s photo shows — it’s landed in the Burying Hill Beach parking lot.

Southport beach shack

If you spot this peripatetic beach shack somewhere else, let us know. It’s sure tough to pin down.

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Posted in Places

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Southport Shack Saved?

Posted on August 13, 2013 | 7 comments

On Sunday morning, the Southport Beach concession stand run by Hunter King looked like this:

Southport beach

As noted on “06880,” it was 1 day away from demolition.

Several alert readers spotted it this week just around the corner (and over the Westport border), on Beachside Avenue. JP Vellotti sent along this shot:

Southport Beach concession stand on Beachside Avenue

Which brings up 3 questions:

  1. What’s it doing there?
  2. How long will it stay?
  3. How could someone on the demolition crew misspell “Fairfield” as “Farfield”?

7 Comments

Posted in People, Places

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Rockin’ By The Roadside

Posted on August 18, 2012 | 75 comments

An alert reader has noticed a new Westport trend.

Homeowners are putting rocks — in some cases, mini-boulders — on their grass near the road.

The corner of Duck Pond and Harbor Road.

I’m not sure why. Is it to prevent illegal parking? Deter drivers from pulling over to use their cell phones? Stop sloppy driving? Purely decorative?

Also Duck Pond and Harbor Roads — this other side of the street.

It seems to mark property in a fairly clear way.

The other side of town: Beachside Avenue. Some big movie guy lives here.

Have you done this? Thought about it? Do you like it or hate it? Click “Comments” to comment.

75 Comments

Posted in Places, Totally random

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8800 Sq Ft, Water Vu, 6 Washer/Dryers

Posted on March 8, 2012 | 10 comments

The rich are different from you and me.

The rich have 6 washers and dryers.

At least, Phil Donohue and Marlo Thomas do.

Their Beachside Avenue property is on the market.

Phil and Marlo's home. (Photo/John Videler)

For a mere $27.5 million, you get:

  • Welcoming gates and a long drive
  • A 3-bedroom, 3-full and 2-half-bath Nantucket-style home with expansive water views
  • A separate 2-bedroom guest wing with a bath and private entrance
  • Another building on a pond, with a fully equipped gym and “hand-crafted, tropical-designed sauna”
  • A screened gazebo for “complete peaceful relaxation and bird watching”
  • Environmentally friendly features, ensuring “the least waterfront maintenance possible”
  • Sophisticated geo-thermal heating, a/c, electric, security and drainage systems “engineered toward the future”
  • Mahogany-framed, “wind-tested” windows.

Oh yeah. And 6 washer-dryers.

Two cops were on hand today, directing brokers to areas of the estate they could and could not see.

It was all very hush-hush. Unless, of course, you had to shout to be heard over all those washers and dryers.

One of the few rooms without a washer-dryer. (Photo/John Videler)

10 Comments

Posted in Entertainment, People, Places, Real estate

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