Westport, which often can be found near the top of the nation’s most expensive places to live, comes in at No. 130 on Forbes’ new list of “America’s 500 Most Expensive ZIP Codes.”

The magazine said the economy has hit these exclusive enclaves hard, with home prices taking major hits.

“The ZIP codes on our list saw a 7 percent average drop in asking price, and in many places prices fell even more,” Forbes said. “Overall, only one-fifth of America’s Most Expensive ZIP Codes saw prices rise—and in a few of those places the data were skewed by a single high-priced listing.”

It said Westport (06880), at No. 130, had a median home asking price of $1.44 million and that home prices here had tumbled 17 percent over the past year. It said there were 444 properties on the market here with 144 average days on the market.

The house at 4 Burritt’s Landing in Westport’s Saugatuck area is among eight winners of the Historic District Commission 2009 Preservation Awards to be presented in a Town Hall ceremony at 10 a.m. on Saturday, Sept. 12. Owned by Winston and Ruby Allen, it is known as the Allen House, c. 1958. It was designed by Chicago architect Roy Binkley, Jr., a disciple of the Bauhaus school of architecture founder Mies van der Rhoe. “This award is being given in recognition of your exceptional efforts to restore and preserve this important mid-century modern house,” the HDC said. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Dave Matlow for WestportNow.com

The house at 24 Compo Parkway is among eight winners of the Westport Historic District Commission 2009 Preservation Awards to be presented in a Town Hall ceremony at 10 a.m. on Saturday, Sept. 12. The HDC recognized owners Marc and Tracy Prosoff for undertaking an extensive rehabilitation which enabled the historic home to be preserved. The HDC noted that its cultural significance includes stories that both Mayor Fiorello LaGuardia and actor Frederic March were once in residence. “While some may have given in to the financial temptation of tearing down and building a new structure, you have chosen to find solutions that retain, enhance and preserve the integrity of this historic home,” the HDC said. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Dave Matlow for WestportNow.com

The house at 81 Clapboard Hill Road is among eight winners of the Historic District Commission 2009 Preservation Awards to be presented in a Town Hall ceremony at 10 a.m. on Saturday, Sept. 12. Owned by Charles C. and Judith H. Reid, it is known as the Morehouse-Taylor House, c. 1727. The HDC said in its award note that the interior of the house reveals “extraordinary insight into the lives of the inhabitants of the 18th century.” (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Dave Matlow for WestportNow.com

Among the eight winners of the Historic District Commission 2009 Preservation Awards to be presented in a Town Hall ceremony at 10 a.m. on Saturday, Sept. 12 is the house at 187 Long Lots Road. Owned by Morgan (“Dutch”) and Susan Wynkoop, it is known as the John Osborn House, c. 1683-1687. It has been in the Wynkoop family since 1971. The HDC said,“The small red colonial dwelling that sits proudly on Long Lots Road is quite likely to be the oldest house in Westport.” (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Dave Matlow for WestportNow.com

WestportNow presents the first installment in a series of photos of the eight winners of the Historic District Commission 2009 Preservation Awards to be presented in a Town Hall ceremony at 10 a.m. on Saturday, Sept. 12. The house at 41 Old Road is owned by Allan and Robin Hoving and is known as the Backiel House, c. 1910. The HDC said “this simple vernacular house has had many additions over the years, some of which were appropriate and some which were not. The Historic District Commission is thankful that the most recent work is respectful of the origins of the house and was done with restraint. In a neighborhood that has seen a number of demolitions of older homes, the Backiel House now serves as an example of how an older house can regain its charm by returning the architecture to its beginnings.” (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Dave Matlow for WestportNow.com

The Westport Historic District Commission (HDC) today announced its 2009 Historic Preservation Awards. Recipients will be honored at a Town Hall ceremony on Saturday, Sept. 12 at 10 a.m.

This year’s recipients include owners of eight residential properties: 13 Hillandale Road, 4 Burritt’s Landing, 81 Clapboard Hill Road, 187 Long Lots Road, 41 Old Road, 109 Wilton Road, 48 Turkey Hill Road South and 24 Compo Parkway.

Starting Tuesday, WestportNow begins publishing its annual series of photographs of each award-winning house.

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 commission gave special attention to the project’s impact on the surrounding streetscape.

The house at 12 Woodhill Road off Westport’s Greens Farms Road near Bulkley Avenue South was demolished Wednesday.  Built in 1951, the one-story ranch had 1,316 square feet, was situated on a 0.9-acre lot and changed ownership last month at $1,300,000.  It was the WestportNow Teardown of the Day on Jan. 21, 2009. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Dave Matlow for WestportNow.com