Chuck Haberstroh and Jacque Horelik haven’t set the date, but they have bought a home in Fairfield. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) WestportNow.com photo
Sunday’s New York Times features a Westport couple who bought a house together before they got married. Or engaged.

The newspaper’s real estate section, delivered to home subscribers today and available online, recounts the real estate and love relationship between Westporters Chuck Haberstroh, 30, and Jacque Horelik, 28.

“These days it’s not wedding bells that are breaking up the old gang,” the newspaper said. “It’s real estate. For some very sound (if not grandma-pleasing) reasons, the first house often precedes the march down the aisle.”

Haberstroh, eldest son of Westport Board of Finance member Charles Haberstroh and wife, Patty, and Horelik decided to close on a three-bedroom Cape Cod-style home in Fairfield two months ago. They got it for $430,000, $29,000 less than the asking price.

The house at 6 Elwil Drive, off Westport’s Roseville Road, was demolished today. Built in 1950, the 1-3/4-story colonial had 2,240 square feet, was situated on a one-acre property on a cul-de-sac, and changed ownership last month for $925,000.  It was the WestportNow Teardown of the Day on Sept. 25, 2009. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Dave Matlow for WestportNow.com

An application is in process for a permit to demolish the house at 5 Grant Ave. off Washington Avenue in Westport. Built in 1961, the one-story split has 1,536 square feet and is situated on a .45-acre property. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Dave Matlow for WestportNow.com

The third oldest house in Westport, built in 1710, has been sold and will be preserved, according to a source knowledgeable about the house at 38 Compo Road North. The house had gained publicity last month when brokers held an open house at the property. (See WestportNow Nov. 29, 2009) The 1-1/4 story antique house has 1,427 square feet and is situated on a one-acre property. The source said the buyers were a couple who had previously expressed interest in the property. They intend to keep the house intact but extend a portion in the back, according to the source. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Dave Matlow for WestportNow.com

An application is in process for a permit to demolish the house and barn at 346 Compo Road South.  Built in 1920, the two-story colonial has 1,843 square feet, the barn has 328 square feet and both structures are situated on the .18-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

Rob Reeves addressing the Westport Rotary Club today. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Dave Matlow for WestportNow.com
The Westport Weston Family Y, which sold its downtown building to an investor group three years ago in advance of a planned move to its Mahackeno property, has received a five-year extension on its occupation of the 86-year-old building, a Y official said today.

Rob Reeves, chief executive officer, told the weekly meeting of the Westport Rotary Club that the extension was agreed upon by the Y and the building’s new owner, Bedford Square Associates. The group agreed to pay more than $20 million for the 86-year-old building in 2006. (See WestportNow Dec. 12, 2006)

“It was mutually beneficial,” Reeves said.

He explained that litigation by neighbors opposed to the project has delayed the Y’s planned move and at the same time the difficult economy has forced the developer to put its plans on hold. The Y originally had hoped to break ground on the new building this year and move in sometime in 2011.

Reeves said the Y’s revised timetable calls for construction to begin in 2011 and for occupation of its new building to take place in 2013.

The house at 40 Meadow View Drive in Westport’s Coleytown section was demolished today. Built in 1954, the one-story split level house had 2,042 square feet, was situated on a one-acre property and changed ownership in November 2008 at $912,000.  It was the WestportNow Teardown of the Day on Sept. 8, 2009. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Dave Matlow for WestportNow.com