Real Estate
Thursday, May 23, 2013
WestportNow Teardown of the Day: 106 Old Road
An application for a permit to demolish the house at Westport’s 106 Old Road, near Bulkley Avenue North, is in process. Built in 1954, the one-story split level has 1,421 square feet and is situated on a .51-acre property. Because the house was built more than 50 years ago, the application will be reviewed by the Westport Historic District Commission. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Dave Matlow for WestportNow.com
Wednesday, May 22, 2013
WestportNow Teardown of the Day: 89 Compo Road North
An application for a permit to demolish the house at Westport’s 89 Compo Road North is in process. Built in 1948, the 1 1/2-story cape has 1,360 square feet and is situated on a .36-acre property. Because the house was built more than 50 years ago, the application will be reviewed by the Westport Historic District Commission. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Dave Matlow for WestportNow.com
Tuesday, May 21, 2013
Real Estate Report: Colonials Are King
By Judy Szablak
Traditional and transitional colonial-style homes reign supreme in Westport, and continue to be the most marketable properties with the best resale value.
This home at 167 Compo Road South is listed at $1,799,000. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Photo courtesy of William Pitt Sotheby’s-Southport/Fairfield
Comprising 63 percent of the 289 available homes for sale, these mostly five-bedroom homes average just over 4,250 square feet, with an average list price of $2,163,117.
In the past year, more than two-thirds of the reported sales through our local MLS were colonial-style homes, and the average sales price of these 273 homes during the last 12 months was $1,634,577.
Although there might seem to be a great disparity in the average pricing of what’s currently on the market as opposed to what has closed in the last year, the significant price increase is due largely in part to the amount of new construction.
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Monday, May 20, 2013
Comings & Goings: Steam to Green’s Farms Station
A new coffee, bakery and sandwich shop, Steam, will open at the Green’s Farms Metro-North station by late June, according to co-owners Briana Pennell and Chris Barrett. They were awarded the right to use the site in a Town of Westport competitive bid process. Deputy Police Chief Foti Koskinas was at the station today with the couple. “Renovations began about one week ago, and the new business should be operational sometime in mid to late June,” he said. Norwalk resident Pennell, a Culinary Institute of America graduate, is a pastry chef. Barrett, a Stamford resident, has a background in the restaurant business. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Dave Matlow for WestportNow.com
Friday, May 17, 2013
Comings & Goings: Westport Auction to Saugatuck P.O.
Westport Auction, 615 Riverside Ave., , specializing in estate consignments, has opened at the site of the former Saugatuck Post Office. It will conduct its first live auction Sunday at 1 p.m., according to Travis Worrell, owner of the business with his wife, Kate. “We’ve been conducting one-time auctions in various locations for the past five years and decided to open this 3,400-square feet permanent location which is close to the train station and is easy access for New York customers,” Travis Worrell said. He said the estimated 425 items and groupings to be auctioned range in value from $100 to $100,000 and are comprised of mid-century furniture, fine arts, jewelry, Chinese antiques and other merchandise. “We focus on the unusual, he said. For more information, phone (203)222-3448. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Dave Matlow for WestportNow.com
Westport Property Transfers April 29 - May 3, 2013
Westport property transfers as reported by the Town Clerk’s office for the period April 29 - May 3, 2013:
Gregory S. and Amanda J. Parker to Edward A. and Kristina A Tricker, 20 Partrick Lane, $1,100,000
Audrey Tumpowsky to Albert Pizzirusso, Colony Road, $912,500
Bruce and Joan Nemirow to Ronald G. Marks, 54 Lyons Plains Road, $4,600,000
Mark D. and Laura L. Pflug to Allan Arkush and Bonnie B. Edwards, 79 Clinton Ave., $1,400,000
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Wednesday, May 15, 2013
Comings & Goings: La Boutique Debuts on Post Road East
La Boutique, a women’s accessories store, has opened at 719 Post Road East in a space adjoining Effi’s Salon, according to owners Suzanne and Fred England. The Englands, owners of Beadz, 1094 Post Road, Darien for the past seven years, said the Westport store is a natural expansion of their business. “I’ve lived in this area for 28 years,” said Suzanne England. “I love Westport. It’s an artsy town. When i think of shopping, I think of Westport. It’s an eclectic group.” Fred England said the accessories are handmade in the Darien location, and that includes custom offerings as well. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Dave Matlow for WestportNow.com
Comings & Goings: The Avenue Out, Alex and Ani In
After 15 years, The Avenue Gallery, specializing in framing antique maps and nature prints, has relocated from 117 Post Road East to Norwalk’s 173 Main St., in the former Brandman Paint distribution center. In an email to WestportNow, owner Diana Wyant said, “It was hard leaving Westport, but my clients were having issues with the lack of parking.” She said she retains the same phone number, (203) 227-5062. Signs in the window say the space will be taken over by Alex and Ani, a jeweler described on its website as offering “eco-friendly, positive energy products that adorn the body, enlighten the mind, and empower the spirit.” (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Dave Matlow for WestportNow.com
Board of Selectmen Okays Two New Pop-Ups
The Westport Board of Selectmen today approved two new pop-up dining applications for the downtown area—Bobby Q’s on Main Street and the new Cru restaurant opening in the basement of 125 Main St. with its entrance on Parker Harding Plaza. Bob LaRose, owner of Bobby Q’s said he hoped to be up and running for the May 23 Art About Town street party sponsored by the Westport Downtown Merchants Association. Pictured is Bobby Q’s temporary outdoor dining facility erected during the 2011 Art About Town event. The new Bobby Q’s pop-up will be narrower—since there will traffic flowing—and take up two parking spaces. Cru co-owner Steve Prokop said he is aiming for a June opening with the pop-up to debut on Parker Harding Plaza soon after. Currently, Acqua Ristorante Mediterraneo on Parker Harding Plaza and La Villa Trattoria restaurant on Bay Street have pop-up cafe approvals downtown. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Helen Klisser During for WestportNow.com
Going Down: 158 Compo Road South
The house at Westport’s 158 Compo Road South was demolished today. Built in 1900, the two-story colonial had 1,248 square feet, was situated on a .75-acre property and changed ownership in June, 2012 for $615,000. It was the WestportNow Teardown of the Day on March 30, 2012. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Dave Matlow for WestportNow.com
Tuesday, May 14, 2013
Comings & Goings: Chico’s to Reopen on Main St.
The women’s apparel and accessories store Chico’s will reopen Thursday at 61 Main St, according to an employee. It has been closed since Storm Sandy last October—the last Main Street holdout from storm damage. Chico’s was also closed due to the flooding caused by Tropical Storm Irene in late August 2011, reopening in November 2011. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Dave Matlow for WestportNow.com
Monday, May 13, 2013
Comings & Goings: Joie to Post Road East
Joie, a women’s apparel store, has opened at 48 Post Road East, next to Tiffany & Co.. The Westport location is its eighth stand-alone shop and its first in Connecticut, according to an employee. Other Joie shops include two in New York City, on Madison Avenue and in SoHo, as well as in souther California at Newport Beach’s Fashion Island and on Melrose Avenue. The business was founded in 2001 and is based in downtown Los Angeles.. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Dave Matlow for WestportNow.com
Friday, May 10, 2013
Real Estate Report: Sales Up, Prices Static
By Judy Szablak
Westport sales are up sharply over last year, however average prices have not shown an increase—as of yet.
This home at 3 Buck Hill Road is listed at $2,350,000. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Photo courtesy of Coldwell Banker-Westport Riverside
While we may not have seen a significant price increase, there are currently more than 70 pending single family homes, and we can expect prices to edge upward. Unit sales are up significantly this year, and as of today, there have been 123 sales, as opposed to only 92 during this same period in 2012.
Additionally, in the last month or so, we have seen many properties enter into multiple bidding wars, and final purchase amounts exceeding initial asking prices.
There have been nine homes year-to-date that have sold at asking price, and another 13 sold over asking price. Two standout properties sold for $123,000 and $125,000 over asking price—on Marine Avenue and on Dogwood Lane, respectively.
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Westport Property Transfers April 22 - 26, 2013
Westport property transfers as reported by the Town Clerk’s office for the period April 22 - 26, 2013:
One Nine Sterling Drive Development LLC to Graham and Elaine Ann Staley, 19 Sterling Drive, $2,300,000
Mark A. and Terry Ryan Oberlander to Vidyadhar and Kalyani Kareddy, 1 Sherwood Farms Lane, $1,380,000
Joseph Rothman Westport LLC to Post Maple Real Estate LLC, 1529 Post Road East, $3,450,000
Chester J. Kaye Est. to Rachel R. and Micah Meisel, 11 Turkey Hill Circle, $1,182,000
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Thursday, May 09, 2013
Comings & Goings: Sunglass Hut Reopens on Main Street
Westport’s Sunglass Hut, 74 Main St. closed since Storm Sandy last October, reopened today. The business also operates in other Fairfield County locations including Greenwich, Stamford, Danbury and Trumbull. Today’s opening leaves Chico’s as the last Storm Sandy Main Street victim. It is expected to reopen next week. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Dave Matlow for WestportNow.com
Note: WestportNow Publisher Gordon F. Joseloff is also First Selectman of Westport