The home at 16 Minute Man Hill won’t be demolished if it can be sold before Jan. 12 under an agreement announced today.  (CLICK TO ENLARGE) WestportNow.com file photo by Dave Matlow
By Jennifer Connic

As part of a settlement announced today in Stamford Superior Court, the contract owners of the house designed by modernist architect Paul Rudolph at Westport’s 16 Minute Man Hill have agreed to negotiate with a potential buyer for one week.

Westport developer David Waldman and his wife Yvette will work through Jan. 12 to negotiate in good faith with an unnamed potential buyer.  If they cannot reach an agreement by then, they will demolish the house.

The Waldmans have signed an agreement with Dr. Louis Micheels to buy the house for $3.2 million and have already paid a $500,000 deposit.

The Connecticut Trust for Historic Preservation, which was asking for an injunction on demolition until after the home could be formally nominated to the National Register of Historic Places, agreed that it will not do anything to prevent the Waldmans from demolishing the house.

By Dave Matlow

The number of teardowns dipped slightly in 2006 from the previous year, according to the Westport Building Department.
The first Westport demolition permit of 2007 was issued Thursday for 8 Sprucewood Lane.  (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Dave Matlow for WestportNow.com

In 2006, there were 93 demolition permits issued, down from 102 in 2005, the department said Thursday.

The department Thursday also issued its first demolition permit of the new year—for 8 Sprucewood Lane.

The house was featured as the WestportNow Teardown of the Day on Dec. 6.

By Jennifer Connic

The Westport Planning and Zoning Commission will hold a third hearing on a proposal to redevelop a Saugatuck property along Riverside Avenue.

The commission held its second hearing tonight and decided a third hearing was needed to discuss issues including drainage and public access to the Saugatuck River, including docks.

The plan calls to construct new buildings that would include retail shops, offices and residences at 553, 570 and 580 Riverside Ave. and 9 Ketchum St., which is set on either side of Riverside Avenue along the Saugatuck River.

Several of the 21 residential units will also be deemed affordable per the requirements of the town’s zoning regulations.

Westport’s Inn at National Hall and adjacent shops have changed hands for $19.85 million, according to a filing at the Westport Town Clerk’s office.
A Greenwich real estate investment company bought the Inn at National Hall and adjacent stores on the 2.5 acre property. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Dave Matlow for WestportNow.com

The Dec. 26 sale was by Norwalk’s Greenfield Partners LLC, operating as National Hall Associates LLC, to Antares National Hall LLC of Stamford, an entity controlled by Anatares Investment Partners of Greenwich.

Two years ago, the owners applied to the Planning and Zoning Commission to convert the hotel rooms into luxury condominiums. The company has yet to file final plans for the conversion after winning approval for larger units. (See WestportNow Jan. 20, 2005)

Built in 1873 and once part of the thriving 19th century Westport waterfront, the Inn at National Hall was restored and transformed into a 15-room luxury hotel in 1993 by developer Arthur Tauck at a cost of about $2.5 million. It was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1994.

By Jennifer Connic

The judge presiding over a hearing involving a legal effort by preservationists to delay demolition of a house at Westport’s 16 Minute Man Hall designed by modernist architect Paul Rudolph today cited procedural problems with the case and also encouraged the two parties to discuss the potential for dismantling the house.
A lawyer for the contract owner of the house at 16 Minute Man Hill testified today his client would be willing to see if it could be dismantled and moved. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) WestportNow.com file photo by Dave Matlow

David Waldman, the contracted owner for the house, also said during testimony before Stamford Superior Court Judge Taggert D. Adams that his family stands to lose $500,000 if he cannot close on the house later this month because of an injunction.

It was the third day of hearings on the case brought by the Connecticut Trust for Historic Preservation to prevent Waldman from demolishing the house until a nomination process to the National Register for Historic Places could be completed.

On Tuesday, the trust’s attorney presented his case and today Waldman’s attorney presented his case through testimony from Waldman, Realtor Sandy Ruta and Louis Micheels, who is selling the property to Waldman.

By Jennifer Connic

A Stamford Superior Court judge made no decision today on the future of the Paul Rudolph-designed home at Westport’s 16 Minute Man Hill and testimony by the seller of the property, Louis Micheels, was set for Wednesday.
A judge has yet to decide the fate of the home at 16 Minute Man Hill, and court hearings continue Wednesday. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) WN file photo

The Connecticut Trust for Historic Preservation is seeking an injunction on the demolition of the house, which Rudolph designed for Micheels, while the research for placing the home on the National Register of Historic Places can be completed.

Marc Kurzman, attorney for David Waldman, a prominent downtown Westport developer who has a contract with Micheels to purchase the property, told Judge Taggert D. Adams today that Micheels is traveling to Connecticut from his Massachusetts home to testify in the case on Wednesday. The sale has not closed yet.

Additionally, several people stated in testimony today that Micheels opposes the movement to list the house on the National Register of Historic Places.