Tag Archives: Carvana

Roundup: Carvana, Poetry, Earthplace …

Carvana — the Arizona based used car dealer selling entirely online — appears to have gone the way of the Edsel.

After 5 years on Post Road West, diagonally across from Kings Highway Elementary School — at a site previously occupied by (among others) a Volkswagen dealership, and classic car showroom — the large lot is empty.

The interior has been stripped of its fixtures.

(Photos/Adrian Little)

Looks like one more niche for Amazon to fill.

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It takes a while to write a great (or even meh) poem.

Fortunately, it does not take long to put up a poetry box.

On Tuesday, at her installation as Westport’s new poet laureate, Donna Disch announced there would soon be a poetry box at Compo Beach.

Yesterday it was installed at the end of Soundview Drive, near where Hillspoint Road becomes Compo Road South.

(Photo/JD Dworkow)

 

 

It comes complete with a poem.

(Photo/Matt Murray)

With its proximity to Fiona’s Disappearing Island, that spot of Compo Beach is now more magical than ever.

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The Woodside Bash — Earthplace’s great under-the-stars fundraiser is well known for its great food, live music and woodsy vibe.

This year’s event (Saturday, October 5, 7 to 10 p.m.) adds something new: contemporary line dancing.

After a filling harvest dinner, Bash-goers will enjoy a special lesson from experts.

All proceeds support Westport’s popular nature center. Earthplace continues its focus on bringing quality, nature-based programming and education to everyone – especially urban youth in Fairfield County and beyond.

Tickets include a harvest dinner, open bar, fire pit with s’mores, and band. Click here to purchase, and for more information.

Attendees at last year’s Woodside Bash. This year, they’ll be line dancing.

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StartUp Westport is starting up another season, offering innovative and impactful ideas.

This Tuesday (September 24, 6:30 p.m., Westport Library) features a night of cocktails, networking and information. The focus is on B Corporations, a new business model that allows companies to pursue both profit and purpose.

Hosted by Jen Gorin, founder of Impact Growth Partners, with a roundtable discussion led by Phil White and Heidi Schoeneck of Grounded World — both Westport-based Certified B Corps — the event highlights the importance of impact-driven business practices.

Michael Hermus of Westport-based mental health startup Halespring, Felicia Rubenstein of HAYVN, and Adam Thatcher of Grace Farms Tea & Coffee will share insights into how B Corp certification can enhance employee retention, market positioning and fundraising efforts. 

The event is free, but registration is required; click here.

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Marc Lasry earned his billionaire status as a private equity manager.

He earned an NBA championship ring as co-owner of the Milwaukee Bucks.

Now — as women sports are having a moment — the Beachside Avenue resident may buy a controlling stake in a women’s team.

Sportico reports that Lasry is nearing a dal to purchase 60% of the National Women’s Soccer League North Carolina Courage from Steve Malik. The valuation is around $108 million.

Previously, Lasry expressed interest in the Seattle Reign. Sportico says he was also in the running to buy Angel City FC, before Willow Bay and Bob Iger purchased control of the NWSL’s most valuable club ($250 million valuation).

Click here for the full story.

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It’s not yet the holiday season. But it’s never too early for Earth Animal’s “Buy Joy to Gift Joy” project.

From now through December 31, the popular Post Road East store will donate 1 No-Hide Strip to shelter dogs, for every Pumpkin Spice or Holiday Feast No-Hide Chew purchase.

The goal is to donate No-Hide Chews to 80,000 shelter dogs. They’re an alternative to rawhide, offering dogs safe nutritious and enjoyable chew experiences.

Earth Animal

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We’ve posted this before, but it bears repeating.

This reminder comes from Cindy Nigro: “A basket in the lobby of Westport Police headquarters on Jesup Road is filled with lost keys. They’re dropped off by helpful folks all over town.

“I dropped off a set with an electronic fob that was unclaimed at Old Mill Beach for most of the summer.”

As anyone who has replaced them knows, those fobs are expensive! If you’ve lost one, it may be at the police station.

(Photo/Cindy Nigro)

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An appreciative crowd enjoyed the Matsiko World Orphan Choir yesterday. The Jazz Society of Fairfield County presented the concert, at Bedford Middle School.

The Liberian choir performs traditional African songs around the world, to champion the rights of all children to receive a basic education.

Dancing in the aisles, at Bedford Middle School. (Photo/Dinkin Fotografix)

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There are still 2 days left of summer.

But squirrels have started gathering acorns for the winter already.

This guy stopped briefly, to pose for our daily “Westport … Naturally” feature.

Then it was right back to work. Those nuts don’t store themselves!

(Photo/Tracy Porosoff)

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And finally … in honor of our town’s new poet laureate, and our first poetry box (story above):

(We’ll spare you a rhyme. But here’s a reason: If you enjoy these daily “06880” Roundups, please consider a tax-free contribution. Just click here. And thank you!)

New Senior Housing Proposed For Post Road West

The Residence at Westport — our first assisted living community — opened last summer, opposite Greens Farms Elementary School.

A second one is planned for the opposite side of town.

Maplewood Senior Living has proposed a 3-story facility for the former Dragone Classic Motorworks site, diagonally across from Kings Highway Elementary.

Site plan for the proposed assisted living facility. Post Road East is on the right; Kings Highway North and Ludlow Street are on the left.

The property has a long history with automobiles. It was for many years the home of the Small Car Company — for a while, the most successful Volkswagen dealer in the US. In 2018 it was rezoned to allow an electric car dealership (rumored to be Tesla).

The current tenant is Carvana, a used car dealer that sells entirely online. Nearby buildings include retail and residences, with 8 apartments.

The former Dragone property, and its neighbor, on Post Road West.

Maplewood’s corporate headquarters are on Gorham Island, off Parker Harding Plaza. They operate 15 senior living communities in 5 states. Other Connecticut locations include Southport, East Norwalk, Newtown, Darien, Bethel, Danbury and Orange.

Plans call 95 units: 49 for assisted living, 46 for memory and full care. Two of the assisted living units will be designated as affordable. The facility will be called Maplewood at Westport.

Artists’ rendering of Maplewood at Westport.

Because part of the property lies within the Kings Highway North Local Historic District, Maplewood and Landtech — the Saugatuck-based engineering and environmental firm — have worked with neighbors, and Westport’s Historic District Commission, since June.

Two “historic residences” — over 50 years old — will be preserved.

One house at 174 Post Road West will be relocated to 38 Kings Highway North.

The existing home at 38 Kings Highway North, with a rendering of the home that will be relocated from 174 Post Road West.

Another, at #172, will be moved slightly, and designated as affordable.

The new location of the house at 172 Post Road West.

Maplewood’s building will be tucked into the hill. Only the roof will be visible from Kings Highway. Landscaping and vegetation will be added to the site, and on some private property.

All contaminated soil — the legacy of decades as a car dealership — will be removed.

The proposal goes before the Flood & Erosion Control Board in March, with the Conservation Commission to follow. The target date for opening is late summer or early fall of 2022.

Your Car Will Be Ready For Pickup Soon

The classic old cars at Dragone Motorcars have been replaced by merely old cars.

Or, — to use the popular ridiculous euphemism — “pre-owned.”

As “06880” reported in November, Carvana is the new tenant on Post Road West. That’s the Arizona-based used car dealer selling entirely online.

Customers search for, finance and trade in their old vehicles all through the website. They can inspect any vehicle — inside and out — with 360-degree views.

Carvana offers nationwide delivery, or the option to pick up a vehicle at one of their “car vending machine locations.”

So far there are just a couple of cars and flatbed trucks on site. All bear the Carvana logo.

No sign yet of a “vending machine” tower.

(Hat tip: Dick Lowenstein)

Electric Car Dealer May Still Move Into Dragone

Yesterday, “06880” reported that Carvana — the online used car dealer — is moving into the space vacated last spring by Dragone Classic Motorworks.

Though the Planning & Zoning Commission recently passed a text amendment allowing an electric car dealership on the property — provided it remediated all the oil, chemicals and other contaminants there — Carvana would not have to do that. As a non-electric car dealer, the text amendment does not apply.

However, Carvana is only a temporary tenant.

According to a letter sent by David Ross of 176 PRW LLC — the owner of the 176 Post Road West property, diagonally across from Kings Highway Elementary School — to Mary Young, P&Z director, he and his company are “strong advocates” for electric vehicles.

In fact, he says, he’s been involved in their development since 2005. In 2013 he bought an EV, joined the Westport Electric Car Club, and began working to bring an EV facility to Westport. That’s when he first eyed the Dragone site.

“We acquired the property and the lease at 176 with the sole purpose of bringing an EVAD (electric vehicle auto dealership) to Westport,” he writes.

“We believe it would be great for Westport and help the other properties on Post Road West flourish.”

However, he adds, “there are a lot of moving parts in this process, and we are just clearing one hurdle at a time. The EVAD would not commit until we had a site. Thus we took a big risk and purchased the site. We now need zoning approval so our chances to get the EV company can increase significantly.”

Some factors, Ross says, “are beyond our control. The EV company has corporate and legislative hurdles they are working hard to clear. But without the approvals our chances drop to zero.”

The former Dragone property, and its neighbor, on Post Road West.

Ross says that Carvana would be a short-term tenant. 176 PRW is making a business decision “to cover costs, while the EV company works out their challenges.”

Ross has hired a development team to work on the long-term plan, with a “major EV company.”

So there may well be an electric car dealer on Post Road West.

And — according to the P&Z text amendment approved earlier this month — they would clean up the site, contaminated by years of use by regular ol’ gas-powered car dealers.

Coming Soon: Carvana

Remember that text amendment the Planning & Zoning Commission passed a couple of weeks ago? You know, the one that would have permitted an electric car dealer on the site of the former Dragone Classic Motorcars — provided they remediated the soil, and fixed the rest of the property that was filled with oils and chemicals, after decades of use by old-fashioned car dealers.

An Alfa Romeo, outside the former Dragone Classic Motorworks showroom in Westport.

Turns out, the new tenant could be Carvana.

That’s the Arizona-based, 6-year-old used car dealer that sells entirely online. Customers search for, finance and trade in their old vehicles all through the website. They can inspect any vehicle — inside and out — with 360-degree views.

Carvana offers nationwide delivery, or the option to pick up a vehicle at one of their “car vending machine locations.”

So it appears there won’t be an electric car dealer on Post Road West after all.

Instead, there will be a used car dealer.

And because a text amendment is not required for one regular automobile dealership to replace another, there’s no requirement for Carvana to clean up the site — opposite Kings Highway Elementary School — at all.