By Judy Szablak

New and nearly new homes are clearly in demand in Westport, and homes that were built on or after 2000 have accounted for 128 of the 463 sales in the last year.

This home at 7 Burnham Hill is listed at $3,345,000. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Photo courtesy of William Raveis/Westport

More than 1,000 new homes have been built in town since 2000. That figure represents just over 12 percent of the single family home stock, yet these newer homes comprised more than 27 percent of all homes sold in the last year.

The years 2005 and 2007 were both productive, with the creation of almost one-third of all new homes in this century constructed during just these two years alone. Last year was another brisk year with more than 100 new homes being completed.

Eighteen percent of what is currently for sale today was built since 2000, which includes more than 50 brand new homes as being built in 2013, and/or estimated completion date of 2014, according to our local Multiple Listing Service.

By Judy Szablak

There are relatively few properties that were built prior to 1900 that are still standing in Westport. According to tax data gleaned from the local Multiple Listing Service, and information obtained through the Westport Historical Society, fewer than 500 homes are still in existence that were built prior to 1900.

This antique Queen Anne Victorian colonial at 76 Riverside Ave. is listed at $1 million. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Photo courtesy of The Higgins Group- Fairfield/Vanderblue Team

That figure may seem a little low for a town which has upwards of 8,200 single family residences, but the town has done a good job for many years in preserving whatever antique inventory we have.

The oldest home in town was built in 1685, and is on 187 Long Lots Road. This home has the unique distinction of being the only 17th century single family residence in town.

The 18th century hardly brought a building boom to town, with just 72 homes that are still existing that were built during this period. One noteworthy property which still stands today is at 69 Cross Highway, and its foundation dates back to 1762.

Westport-based Save the Children today announced it will relocate its headquarters and almost 300 employees to Fairfield.

Save the Children’s new home is at Riverview Park, 501 Kings Highway East, Fairfield. It is owned by Fischel Properties, headed by Westporter Harold Fischel.  (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Contributed photo

The global relief and development organization sold its nearly 60,000 square-foot Wilton Road headquarters on Nov. 26 to STC Green LLC of Westport for $11.9 million, and has signed a contract with Rooster River Plaza LLC to lease office space at Riverview Office Park, located at 501 Kings Highway East in Fairfield, an announcement said.

Save the Children President and CEO Carolyn Miles said the move positions the global nonprofit for future growth.

“When we first moved into our Westport headquarters in 1974, we had 75 employees. Today, we have approximately 900 employees across the U.S., with nearly 300 based in Westport,” she said.