Tag Archives: Westport Historic District Commission

[OPINION]: Save Turkey Hill South!

Posted on August 24, 2016 | 108 comments

The saga of 63 Turkey Hill Road South continues. Built in 1920, it’s one of 4 remaining Mediterranean-style houses in Westport.

Neighbors hope to save it from a proposed demolition. Right now, it’s under a 180-day stay. Lisa Fay appealed to the Historic District Commission. She wrote:

As a resident of the Greens Farms area, and a Turkey Hill Road South neighbor for 8 years, I have witnessed the demolition of many diverse homes in the area, and the subsequent building of new homes that share too many qualities of style, size and lot coverage. I feel strongly that buyers, our neighbors – and our town — need urgently to consider what we are losing by letting these demolitions happen.

Firstly, original homes – particularly antiques – reflect a town’s history, complexity and heritage. Just by driving down Turkey Hill Road, a tourist or resident witnesses the wonderful aesthetic and cultural history of Westport. With each demolition, we diminish our town’s unique character. To make matters worse, the new homes built on these lots share few variations in footprint, roof form, and materials.

63 Turkey Hill Road South. (Photo/Robinson Strong)

63 Turkey Hill Road South. (Photo/Robinson Strong)

Secondly, many antique homes – although some in need of repair and updating – could never be duplicated with today’s costs. Antique homes possess a certain solidity, built from wood from 100+ year-old trees, not particle board. These homes have withstood decades of human life and natural disasters, and are still standing. By definition, this makes them, in some senses, priceless.

Thirdly, neighbors lose yet another year of peace and neighborly culture while living in a major construction zone. My Turkey Hill neighbors and I have withstood countless trucks, dust, dirt, traffic, noise and loss of hundreds of trees from lots that have been clear cut.

Thirdly, these demolitions exact a cost to our environment. Most of these materials from demolished homes end up in a landfill. Can’t builders try to work with what they have to minimize the impact on our environment?

Steps leading to the front courtyard at 63 Turkey Hill Road South. (Photo/Robinson Strong)

Steps leading to the front courtyard at 63 Turkey Hill Road South. (Photo/Robinson Strong)

Lastly, demolishing this home reflects yet another lost opportunity to get our town antique preservation benefits right. While the demolition of any antique home upsets me for all the aforementioned reasons, I sympathize with any seller who is in a situation to sell urgently, without regard to the buyer’s intent. Giving antique owners – and potential buyers – incentive to keep antique homes could help stem the tide of demolitions.

Tax relief could provide such incentive. The Mills Act in San Diego provides an example of where tax relief has helped owners maintain the character of their neighborhoods by encouraging preservation. Owners of old homes sign a 10-year renewable contract to restore and maintain their antiques, and in turn receive a 50% discount in their taxes. If Westport intends to maintain its cultural heritage in part by protecting its old homes, it needs urgently to partner with owners in this respect.

Thank you for your leadership in helping to preserve our town’s heritage and character.

108 Comments

Posted in People, Real estate

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108 Cross Highway: Preserving History, Preventing A Teardown

Posted on October 20, 2015 | 11 comments

In June 2011, 108 Cross Highway came on the market. From all indications, it would be the next Westport teardown.

An uproar ensued. The 2-story “vernacular” — with a barn — on the well-traveled stretch between Roseville Road and North Avenue was built in 1805. Records indicated it was one of the few Westport dwellings constructed by a “free black man.”

(That assertion was later challenged. The “Henry Munroe House” may, in fact, have been built by an Indian.)

108 Cross Highway

108 Cross Highway in 2011.

The usual Westport battle raged. On one side were those decrying the destruction of a handsome old home — one with historic significance.

On the other side were those who say that property owners are free to do whatever they want. After all, it’s their money.

The house was taken off the market, rented, then put back on. Jeff Porter and Rachel Ember had been thinking of contemporaries. But when realtor Amy Swanson showed them 108 Cross Highway, they fell in love.

They closed on the property in January 2014.

Nearly 2 years later, the house still stands. The new owners have redone the porch, repaired the chimney, added a paddock fence, restored and refinished the original wood floors, and remodeled the side entry and kitchen in a style appropriate to the home (sourcing reclaimed barn wood).

They also repaired the barn’s rotted siding, and reconfigured the garage doors in a more traditional carriage style.

Today, 108 Cross Highway looks better than ever.

Rear view of 108 Cross Highway, showing a new fence, walkway and covered porch.

Rear view of 108 Cross Highway, showing a new fence, walkway and covered porch.

In fact, it’s one of this year’s recipients of a Preservation Award from the Westport Historic District Commission.

The barn and pool.

The barn and pool.

Too often in Westport, structures like these fall victim to the wrecking ball. We close our eyes, wring our hands, and move on.

The next time you pass 108 Cross Highway, open your eyes wide. Put your hands together, and linger awhile. It’s a wonderful sight to see.

108 Cross Highway, today.

108 Cross Highway, today.

The kitchen, with reclaimed barn wood flooring.

The kitchen, with reclaimed barn wood flooring.

(The 2015 Historic Preservation Awards will be presented by 1st Selectman Jim Marpe, Historic District Commission chair Francis Henkels and commission members on Monday, October 26, 7 p.m. in the Town Hall auditorium.)

 

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Posted in Categories, Looking back, People, Real estate

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Historic Designation Sought For Golden Shadows

Posted on January 13, 2015 | 28 comments

The best use of the Baron’s South property is still a subject of debate.

But a group of Westporters want to make sure that whatever it is, it includes Golden Shadows.

The 1959 Colonial Revival-style structure — built as a private residence by the perfume magnate Baron Walter von Langendorff (hence the perfume-scented name “Golden Shadows”) — sits in the middle of the hilly property, between South Compo Road and Imperial Avenue.

It’s unoccupied — save for some books stored there by the library, and perhaps some woodland creatures — but it’s still in decent condition.

Golden Shadows, looking southwest. (Photo/Wendy Crowther)

Golden Shadows, looking southwest. (Photo/Wendy Crowther)

Golden Shadows is listed on Westport’s Historic Resources Inventory. Last April, the Historic District Commission voted unanimously to support its designation as a Local Historic Landmark Property. Now, concerned Westporters want the RTM to weigh in with their vote too.

“On the heels of the Planning and Zoning Open Space Subcommittee’s January 8 vote to recommend re-zoning Baron’s South as open space,” a petition submitted to the RTM reads, “we thought it might also be an appropriate time to establish similar protections for Golden Shadows.”

The petition says that the home could be re-purposed as office space, event space or some other municipal use. (New Canaan did something similar with Waveny Park; Norwalk did it with Cranbury Park.)

The “landmark” designation would help conserve the building’s historic features, preventing it from demolition or inappropriate alteration, while also permitting the town to earn a grant for a needs assessment and plan of preservation.

A view into the central parlor shows a chandelier and circular staircase. (Photo/Wendy Crowther)

A view into the central parlor shows a chandelier and circular staircase. (Photo/Wendy Crowther)

The designation would not force the town to do anything. But it does raise Golden Shadow’s profile, and — if passed — flags it as something the RTM deems important.

2015 will see continued debate on Baron’s South. Now, that debate will include a possibly historic landmark home, standing right in its midst.

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Posted in Downtown, Looking back, Organizations, Places, Real estate

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Geiger Demolition: The Sequel

Posted on November 16, 2013 | 11 comments

Alert “06880” reader Wendy Crowther writes:

Last Tuesday (November 12), the Historic District Commission voted unanimously to uphold the 180-day demolition delays placed on both the house and vintage barn at the Geiger Garden Center, plus the small green house next to Westport Wash & Wax (formerly home to “Once a Pickle”).

It was revealed at the meeting that Coastal Construction Group is planning to purchase both sites for redevelopment. What’s interesting is that Coastal’s usual gig is building luxury homes. With these pending purchases, they are apparently considering branching out into commercial/mixed-use development.

The Geiger barn. (Photo/Wendy Crowther)

The Geiger barn…(Photo/Wendy Crowther)

Coastal was represented at the HDC meeting by Mel Barr, whose consulting firm specializes in land use planning, development and regulatory process management. Mr. Barr will be able to report back to Coastal that tearing down the historic buildings on these sites might stir up a pot of controversy.

However, it was HDC’s position that by conserving these historic structures and incorporating them into Coastal’s new projects, benefits can be gained that would otherwise be lost if the buildings are destroyed. The HDC suggested that Mr. Barr and Coastal take a good look at what other developers have done recently to incorporate older structures into their new development projects (for example, Terrain and the Kemper Gunn House).

One of the complexities of re-developing the Geiger site will be the zoning variances  required. These will be needed whether the historic barn is destroyed or not. The HDC reminded Mr. Barr that obtaining the variances might be easier if there is public and HDC support for the project.  That support could be gained if the barn is saved.  There are also special zoning benefits that come along with properties on which historic structures reside. These benefits would also be worth considering.

... and Garden Center.

… and Garden Center.

The Geiger barn, which is over 100 years old, is listed on the Historic Barns of CT Survey. It is the last barn still standing on Westport’s Post Road. HDC chairman Randy Henkels offered to tour the barn with Mr. Barr and Coastal to help better determine its age, its key historic elements, and identify which additions made to the barn over time could be eliminated to restore it to its original form.

Mr. Barr and Coastal were invited to return to the HDC’s next meeting in December to explore options for conserving the structures.

Barr and Coastal are both Westport-based businesses. I hope that their Westport roots might help them appreciate that historic preservation and new development can be combined to make great projects.

Will they show up at HDC’s table next month? We’ll see. In the meantime, the demolition clock is ticking.

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Under The Gunn

Posted on October 1, 2013 | 33 comments

Public comment was overwhelmingly in favor of it.

But the Planning & Zoning Commission wasn’t.

They voted to deny a plan to move the Kemper Gunn House — the handsome, century-old building on Church Lane — across Elm Street to the Baldwin Parking Lot.

Nearly 100 residents — far more than the 20 needed — have appealed the decision to the RTM. That body holds a committee meeting on October 16. The full body will consider the appeal on October 22.

Architect Francis Henkels lays out the issue well. In a letter to the RTM, he notes that nearly a year ago, Bedford Square Associates — the developers of the new Church Lane project — offered the Kemper Gunn house to anyone interested in moving and preserving it.

There were no takers.

35 Church Lane -- also known as the Kemper-Gunn House.

35 Church Lane — also known as the Kemper-Gunn House.

BSA offered to donate the house to the town, pay for its relocation to the parking lot, and construct a new foundation there. The town requested proposals from 2 private developers willing to renovate the house at their expense, and lease the land from the town. One was accepted.

The offer “requires minimal or no expense to the town and a future source of revenue, while insuring the future of the house,” Henkels says.

BSA developed a plan, indicating how the house could be sited to minimize the number of parking spaces lost. The plan also shows how the house can be integrated into a parking garage, as has been discussed for the future.

BSA has a construction schedule. The Historic District Commission (which Henkels chairs, though he wrote to the RTM as a private citizen) granted a 180-day delay to BSA’s demolition request. The purpose of the delay is “to give all interested parties time to investigate ways to preserve an important structure.”

Advocates for saving the house have worked hard to find a solution. But time is running out. Soon, BSA will have the right to demolish the Kemper Gunn House.

Henkels says that moving it to the Elm Street parking lot is the only feasible solution.

I agree with Henkels — and many other Westporters. This choice seems like a no-brainer. Saving one historic house is far more important than saving a few parking spots.

33 Comments

Posted in Downtown, Local politics, People

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Saving 20 Maplewood Avenue

Posted on September 13, 2013 | 16 comments

Yesterday’s “06880” post — on 3 Evergreen Avenue — brought plenty of comments on the importance of preserving older homes. Several readers referenced 20 Maplewood Avenue. It’s off Main Street, just before Clinton Avenue heading east.

Jennifer Tedesco Alfano  provided great background info. She writes:

My kids are the 3rd generation of my family to live in our house on Maplewood — and 5th generation Westporters. My husband and I are both veteran Westport teachers. The issue of this town being essentially “wiped out” is near and dear to my and my neighbor’s hearts.

We are a modest neighborhood consisting of (but not limited to) teachers, a freelance writer, a retired Gault employee who is also a special police officer, a tile layer and a musician.

Back in the day there was my dad, acting assistant fire chief Larry Tedesco. Frank DeMace (Mario’s owner), who was my godfather, lived in my house on Maplewood before my parents bought it when I was a toddler.

Currently 3 homes, including ours, consist of native Westporters. Maplewood is a street not only with lots of architectural and structural history, but a lot of “old Westport” history, too.

20 Maplewood Avenue...

20 Maplewood Avenue…

New or native, we love the charm and quaintness of our neighborhood so much that we felt it was worth fighting for. We have not had one teardown.

The most dilapidated home was refurbished a couple of years ago by Robert Mills IV. His family owned one of the houses next door to 20 Maplewood. #20 is a near-100-year-old house, once the home of Jim McKay.

The public notice for “demo”  of #20 was placed toward the back of the house, where no one could see it. We felt that the builder was trying to hide it, so my kids delivered 2 sets of letters to the neighbors to alert them to what was happening.

Robert Mills IV doesn’t even live there. He rents the home. But he was so concerned, he came to a Historic District Commission meeting to speak out against the teardown. So many neighbors showed up, a partition was opened so more people could sit.

Award-winning restoration expert William Dohme did what he’s done to numerous Westport buildings. He made it impeccable.

...and the newest refurbishment (left), next door.

…and the newest refurbishment (left), next door. (Photos by Morgan Whelan)

We are now going to try to get our street registered as a historic district, as more than half the homes on Maplewood Ave. were built in the early to mid 1900’s.

Neighbors should know that they can make a difference and perhaps change the mind of someone who wants to just make a profit on their street. I had never been to an HDC meeting before. I was amazed at the background, knowledge and experience of the people who serve on this committee.

Thanks to their careful consideration of our argument and dismay that a perfectly well maintained, 100-year old home would be demolished for no reason other than profit, a delay was granted.

Maplewood Avenue is not going down without a fight. I hope that more residents who live on the few streets like ours that are still left will stand up for what is right.

We made a difference. At least, for now!

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Posted in Looking back, Organizations, People, Places

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Remembering Maggie Feczko

Posted on July 1, 2013 | 6 comments

Maggie Feczko of Westport — a longtime local volunteer, with a passion for Westport history and preservation — died on Friday, after a long battle with ovarian cancer. She was 64.

She was a former chair of the Westport Historic District Commission, and an avid member of the Westport Historical Society, Westport Garden Club, Sunrise Rotary and the League of Women Voters of Westport, among others. She fought hard to save the Sherwood House on Church Lane, now the site of the Spotted Horse restaurant.
Maggie Feczko

Maggie Feczko

She also worked recently to gain historic landmark designation for the Historical Society’s Wheeler House. “Maggie always brought a clear vision and great intelligence in expressing historical details, which made it absolutely come alive,” said WHS president Susan Wynkoop. “It was always an honor to work with Maggie.”

Historic District chair Francis Henkels added, “Maggie led our commission with a great combination of commitment, insight and charm. She was a great asset to the cause of historic preservation in our town.”

First Selectman Gordon Joseloff said, “Maggie Feczko was such a vibrant part of Westport through her many volunteer activities over the years. Her loss will be deeply felt by the many who knew her and by the many others who did not but benefited from her efforts. Our deepest condolences to her family.”

Maggie had been a buyer for Bloomingdale’s in New York. In Dallas she served as the minister’s assistant at the First Unitarian Church, and a guardian ad litem. In Westport she was a justice of the peace.

A service in her memory will be held at Christ & Holy Trinity Church this Wednesday (July 3), at 11 a.m.

In lieu of flowers donations can be made to the Ovarian Cancer Research Fund.

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Breaking News — Terrain Takes Demolition Request Off HDC Agenda

Posted on June 11, 2013 | 21 comments

Sources say that Terrain has asked that its request for demolition of the house on the corner of the Post Road and Crescent Road be removed from tonight’s Historic District Commission agenda.

Terrain is believed to be working with the Planning and Zoning Commission on a parking plan that would preserve  the century-old structure.

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Posted in Local business, Local politics

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Terrain Property Owner Opposes Teardown

Posted on June 10, 2013 | 14 comments

It doesn’t get starker than this:

One of the owners of the property leased by Terrain opposes the store’s request to demolish the 1900-era house, and replace it with parking.

The house on Terrain's Post Road property, at the corner of Crescent Road.

The house on Terrain’s Post Road property, at the corner of Crescent Road.

Earlier today, Tom Curran wrote to the Historic District Commission:

I am one of the owners of this property.

I strongly oppose this application for the following reasons:

  •  (According to attached Court proceedings), the entire lease of Terrain is in question, as well as who is authorized to act for the property in granting Terrain permission to do any renovations.
  • The combination of 535,541 and 561 Post Road that was done to satisfy the zoning footprint for the original Terrain application is also in question, as well as the (legal) action in doing it.
  • My family has made numerous commitments to the Town of Westport over the years to not tear down the old “Dress Barn.” Curran Cadillac may still be standing if we were able to expand to meet General Motors’ requirements.
  • That property has had and will continue to have parking concerns forever.
  • The Terrain lease is only guaranteed for another 9 years, while the demolition of this building is permanent.
  • The tax rolls will be reduced.
  • Since the parking is wanted for the restaurant of Terrain, would the original application have been granted if it were for a restaurant and not a nursery?

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Posted in Local business, Local politics, People

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Terrain Tries To Tear Down Historic House

Posted on June 10, 2013 | 29 comments

In 2011 — as part of its application process — Terrain agreed to preserve the small house at the corner of Crescent Road.

The Historic District Commission and Planning and Zoning Commission liked what they heard. The small, gray 1900-era building — one of the last examples of a single-family house on the Post Road — stood proudly across from the fire station.

The house on Terrain's Post Road property, at the corner of Crescent Road.

The house on Terrain’s Post Road property, at the corner of Crescent Road.

But parking is tight at the garden center/lifestyle emporium/restaurant. And it’s tighter than it should be, because as part of the permitting process, the P&Z gave Terrain great latitude with its spots. The Urban Outfitters-owned store was allowed to show 48 parking spots that could be used, if needed. In the plans, they were shown on the east side of the building — near Fresh Market.

They’re currently used to display plants, pots and other garden equipment.

Terrain's "reserve" parking spots, currently used to display plants and garden equipment.

Terrain’s “reserve” parking spots, currently used for plants and garden equipment.

Meanwhile, Terrain plans to knock down the house — and gain 8 parking space. The request for demolition is on this Thursday’s P&Z agenda (June 13, 7:30 p.m., Town Hall auditorium).

Terrain is also on tomorrow’s Historic District Commission agenda (Tuesday, June 11, 7 p.m., Town Hall).

Matthew Mandell is not pleased.

The RTM District 1 representative has made a video, and posted it to YouTube. In it, he explains the back story of Terrain’s dealings with the town.

(Click here if your browser does not connect directly to YouTube.)

Also in the video, Randy Henkels of the Historic District Commission notes their early support of Terrain, based on promises the store made.

Town planning director Larry Bradley describes his department’s role.

And RTM member Cathy Talmadge suggests a boycott of Terrain, if they press ahead with demolition plans.

At the end of the video, Mandell urges Westporterswho want the building saved to write lbradley@westportct.gov. Bradley will pass emails along to P&Z members.

Eternal vigilance is the price of preservation.

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