Among the nine winners of the Westport Historic District Commission 2012 Preservation Awards to be presented in a Town Hall ceremony at 7 p.m. on Monday is the house at 118 Roseville Road. The HDC said the award is being given in recognition of its “reconstruction.” According to the HDC, this leading edge house was designed in 1934 in the emerging “International Style,” a stark white cubistic composition. It is believed to have been designed by Francis Barry Byrne who practiced architecture in Chicago and New York and had been a disciple of Frank Lloyd Wright early in his career.  It was the Westport home of the famous and eccentric pianist, composer, comedian and actor Oscar Levant.  The house had a series of owners over the ensuing years but by 2010 had been empty for three years, was apparently badly deteriorated, and was probably a likely candidate for demolition. At that time it was discovered by the Mcdonalds who were searching for a site for a radically different home for their family. They determined that this derelict had many of the fundamental features they needed for their project. They undertook an extensive reconstruction incorporating concepts of the International Passivhaus Institute for extremely well insulated and energy efficient homes. “Their effort continues the spirit of technical innovation embodied by the original design,” the HDC said. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Dave Matlow for WestportNow.com

Among the nine winners of the Historic District Commission 2012 Preservation Awards to be presented in a Town Hall ceremony at 7 p.m. on Monday is the house at 6 Wild Rose Lane.  According to the HDC, “The Helen Muller Award for a property located in a local historic district is being given in recognition of the meticulous care and preservation of the Craftsman style house c. 1919.  Located in the Gorham Avenue Historic District this award is being given in recognition of their outstanding stewardship of the property and its contribution to the streetscape of this historically significant neighborhood.” The award will be presented to its owners, Robert and Julie Fatherley. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Dave Matlow for WestportNow.com

Among the nine winners of the Historic District Commission 2012 Preservation Awards to be presented in a Town Hall ceremony at 7 p.m. on Monday is the house at 7 Sylvan Lane, The HDC said the award is being given in recognition of efforts by current owner Henry Gilbertie to rehabilitate and preserve the family home, c.1895, and for the many years of dedication and care by his mother, Theresa Gilbertie. She lived and worked in the house for 40 years before her death in 2003. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Dave Matlow for WestportNow.com

Among the nine winners of the Westport Historic District Commission 2012 Preservation Awards to be presented in a Town Hall ceremony at 7 p.m. on Monday, Oct. 29 is the carriage house at 61 Jesup Road. The HDC said the award is being given in recognition of the “excellence in care.” According to the HDC, the Godillot Carriage House was constructed in 1882 by Alexis and Julia Godillot Jr. as a carriage house for their residence across the street at 60 Jesup Road. “It is a beautiful example of the Stick style, designed to complement the stylistic makeover the owners were undertaking to the main house at that time,” the HDC said. The building changed ownership over the years until the Tri-Town Teachers Federal Credit Union purchased it in 1989 for office use. At that time, the structure was badly deteriorated and required extensive renovation, including the complete gutting of the interior. This year the owners undertook another round of renovation work, primarily to the exterior of the building, the HDC said. The entire building was carefully stripped of its old layers of paint with a nondestructive chemical paint removing technique and all deteriorated wood shingles, siding and trim were replaced to match the original. Lacking definitive evidence of the original paint colors, the owners researched and selected appropriate historic paint colors to finish the project and ensure its long term preservation, the HDC said. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Dave Matlow for WestportNow.com

The Westport Historic District Commission (HDC) has announced its 2012 Historic Preservation Awards.

The awards will be presented by First Selectman Gordon Joseloff, Historic District Chair Francis Henkels, and members of the Historic District Commission and staff at a brief ceremony on Monday, Oct. 29 at 7 p.m. in Room 309/307 of Town Hall. 

This year’s recipients include five residential properties and four commercial buildings. The residential recipients: 18 Roosevelt Road, 7 Sylvan Lane, 118 Roseville Road, 6 Wild Rose Road and 8 Colonial Road. The commercial buildings: 15 Powers Court, 26 Church Lane, 61 Jesup Road and the eastbound station house at the Metro-North Railroad Westport station.

Members of the public sent the commission nominations that included recent restoration, preservation, or rehabilitation projects displaying sensitivity to the scale, character, and architectural style of the structure.

The Westport Historic District Commission tonight hosted a Town Hall discussion about creating a Village District Zone in downtown Westport. Consultants working on behalf of the commission portrayed the proposal as preserving the character of downtown Westport while easing the application process for developers. HDC Chairman Randy Henkels said working to establish a Village District would be done while keeping “an open dialogue” with the Downtown 2020 Committee which has said it will seek to hire a consultant to develop a downtown master plan. Planning & Zoning Director Larry Bradley said projects already under way may not be subject to any new zoning regulations unless some sort of moratorium were put in place, a process he said which itself could take an undetermined amount of time. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Contributed photo