Saturday, December 09, 2023

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CDOT Details Plans to Replace Beachside Ave. Bridge

By James Lomuscio

Just a small crowd of 15 persons turned out tonight at a Connecticut Department of Transportation (CDOT) public information session on plans to replace the Beachside Avenue bridge over 1-95.

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Replacement of the Beachside Avenue Bridge will begin in two years and cause its closure for six to nine months. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) WestportNow.com photo

The estimated $8.1 million project would involve replacing a two-span bridge totaling 203 feet, according to the CDOT.

Commencing in the spring of 2020, the project would take between six to nine months and would require the closing of Beachside Avenue at the intersection of Greens Farms Road for that period, CDOT engineers said.

Traffic would be rerouted through the neighborhood, adding travel time to the Greens Farms Academy, as well as to public school buses serving the area.

‘#UNLOAD: Guns in the Hands of Artists’ Opens

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With many from Westport’s art community in attendance, as well as First Selectman Jim Marpe and Police Chief Foti Koskinas, the exhibit “#UNLOAD: Guns in the Hands of Artists” opened tonight at the Fairfield University Art Museum, Walsh Gallery at the Quick Center. New Orleans gallerist Jonathan Ferrara’s traveling exhibition, first staged in 1996, invited artists to make art using decommissioned guns. The show, which runs until Oct. 13, seeks to generate dialogue about guns and gun violence. Mary Himes and Helen Klisser During, artistic director emeritus of the Westport Arts Center (and a WestportNow contributing photographer) are co-founders of #UNLOAD, an arts-based initiative that seeks to drive consensus around the topic of gun violence. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) WestportNow.com photo

Westport Artist Collective Pays It Forward

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“Pay It Forward,” an installation of decommissioned gun parts from a Hartford gun buyback by Westport Artist Collective members Tammy Winser and Dale Najarian, greeted opening night visitors tonight to the exhibit “#UNLOAD: Guns in the Hands of Artists” at the Fairfield University Art Museum, Walsh Gallery at the Quick Center. These remnants of 68 guns, including three assault rifles and a machine gun, will be distributed to a select group of Connecticut artists who will create new art for an exhibit to be presented in partnership with ArtSpace, New Haven. Notes an explanation beside the installation: “Thus we recreate the model provided by the Guns in the Hands of Artists Foundation and pay it forward here in Connecticut.”  (CLICK TO ENLARGE) WestportNow.com photo

Gun Violence: View From a Young Would-Be Legislator

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Will Haskell, a Staples High School graduate and Democratic candidate for state senate District 26, tonight addresses an audience for a panel discussing gun violence and the arts at the Fairfield University Quick Center. Ths discussion was part of the opening night reception for the exhibit “#UNLOAD: Guns in the Hands of Artists” at the Fairfield University Art Museum, Walsh Gallery. It was presented by The Unload Foundation, which believes that the arts can be the catalyst for open dialogue about guns, one that drives consensus and triggers change. Numerous Westport artists and supporters are involved in the initiative. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) WestportNow.com photo

Celebrating a Three-Peat State Tourney Win

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The Staples Boys Tennis Team today won the Class LL state championship in matches played at Yale. This adds to the FCIAC championship won last week and an undefeated 21-0 record. In the last five years, the program has won four out of five Class LL state championships (three straight), five straight FCIAC championships and a 55-game winning streak. Meanwhile, the Staples Girls Tennis Team’s Class LL championship match against Darien was postponed until 3 p.m. Friday at Yale. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Contributed photo

Cribari Bridge Inspection Friday May Cause Delays

An inspection of the William F. Cribari Memorial Bridge in Saugatuck Friday may cause minor delays, police said today.

TranSystems Corporation will be conducting the inspection from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. for the state Department of Transportation, an announcement said.

“Traffic disruption is expected to be minor and traffic control will be handled by TranSystems personnel and the Westport Police Department,” it said.

“Please expect minor delays or use an alternate route.”

Westport Fire Department Lot Gets a Makeover

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Replacement of the Westport Fire Department parking lot, 515 Post Road East, is underway.  According to Deputy Fire Chief Michael Kronick (r), this is the first time the parking lot has been replaced since the building was erected in 1987. He said the asphalt is being completely removed, will be repaved and drainage flow will be reinforced. He said the project will require about one week. Kronick is pictured with Town of Westport Construction Engineer Rafael Ramos. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Dave Matlow for WestportNow.com

After Summit Ruling, Marpe Turns to Appeals Court

Saying an important legal issue is at stake, First Selectman Jim Marpe announced today that the town had filed a petition with the Appellate Court requesting a review of the Superior Court order that Westport issue a conditional sewer permit to Summit Saugatuck, LLC.

The Board of Selectmen, acting as the Water Pollution Control Authority (WPCA), had previously denied the applicant to issue a conditional sewer permit to Summit Saugatuck, LLC. A Superior Court judge rules in the applicant’s favor on May 7.

Felix Charney, Summit owner, plans a development of 187 studio, one- and two-bedroom apartments on Hiawatha Lane in Saugatuck.

Summit’s plan for the eight acres it owns on Hiawatha Lane near the train station calls for 30 percent of the units being set aside for moderate income households having maximum rent and household income restrictions for 40 years.

Real Estate Report: Time to Sell Warm Weather Standouts

By Judy Szablak

Special to WestportNow

Now that the official start of the summer season is upon us, it is a prime time to sell your Westport home with warm weather comforts.

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Featured Home: This home at 14 Cob Drive is listed at $1,649,000. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Photo courtesy of Coldwell Banker Westport/ KMS Partners

In fact, of the 74 homes that closed in the last five years that had both an in-ground pool and a tennis court, only 36 percent closed during a colder seasonal climate.

Buyers who are interested in specific weather-related property amenities such as a tennis court and pool prefer to see the latter functioning, and both should be marketed in their full glory if at all possible.

Add to that fact that neither can truly be fully appreciated during the colder months, and pools need to be opened in order to be inspected.

Westport Real Estate Price Changes

Westport real estate price changes over the past week:

21 Hale St.                $435,000->$429,000
16 Weston Road             $678,000->$648,000
8 Cross Brook Lane         $679,000->$654,000
28 Richmondville Ave.      $699,000->$679,000
44 Sniffen Road             $789,000->$769,000
5 Renzulli Road             $799,000->$779,000
109 Kings Highway S.      $849,000->$830,000
8 River View Road           $949,000->$899,000
225 North Ave.            $949,000->$924,000
41 West Parish Road     $1,000,000->$988,888
14 Wake Robin Road     $1,050,000->$995,000
24 Blue Ribbon Drive     $1,169,000->$1,075,000  
20 Island Way           $1,225,000->$1,199,000
5 Keene Road           $1,250,000->$1,225,000  
4 Scherer Court         $1,300,000->$1,275,000
4 Scofield Place         $1,429,000->$1,299,000  
8 Great Marsh Road     $1,599,000->$1,379,000  
37 Little Fox Lane       $1,495,000->$1,387,000
93 Easton Road         $1,600,000->$1,495,000  
8 Hunt Club Lane       $1,679,000->$1,599,000  
22 Flower Farm Circle   $1,799,000->$1,695,000  
23 Covlee Drive         $2,200,000->$1,900,000  

—Judy Szablak