Sunday, October 18, 2026

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NY Times: Westport Teardowns Spark “Fascination and Fury”

Sunday’s New York Times, in a story on a real estate company specializing solely in teardowns, reports the firm has opened an office in Westport where “teardowns are a source of fascination and fury” and WestportNow’s “teardown of the day” is a popular feature.

Under the headline “Teardowns Reshape Suburbs, And Selling Strategies,” the newspaper said Xchange Properties was founded in a Chicago suburb four years ago and last November expanded to Westport.

It said the company, which enables sellers to market their properties directly to builders without having to pay a full sales commission or go through the charade of house showings, has plans to open offices in other “teardown hotspots” in Virginia, Florida, California, and New Jersey.

“In Westport, Conn., the site of Xchange’s Fairfield County office, teardowns are a source of fascination and fury,” the Times said.

Westport Property Transfers Aug. 8-12, 2005

Property transfers as reported by the Westport Town Clerk’s office for the period Aug. 8-12, 2005:

Peter H. and Rosemary E. Dresch to SIR-Pumpkin Hill LLC, 6 Pumpkin Hill, $1,073,000WN property.jpg

Kathleen and Woodson Merrell to George G. and Kristina D. Bory Jr., 77 Maple Ave., $2,200,000

Holly Christine Allen to Westport Rental Holdings LLC, 38 Hiawatha Lane, $745,000

Emily Laux to Adam L. Dener and Carla Schine, 148 Cross Highway, $2,205,000

Andrew M. and Kelley Schutte to Christopher M. and Kim M. Healy, 38 Bulkley Ave. North, $1,685,000

Donahue and Thomas Put Westport House on Market for $25 Million

Longtime Westport celebrity residents Phil Donahue and Marlo Thomas have put their Greens Farms mansion with Long Island Sound views on the market for $25 million.donahueaerial08170501.jpg
Aerial view of the Beachside Avenue property.  (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Nicholas H. Fingelly photo

The listing of the Beachside Avenue property by Nicholas H. Fingelly Real Estate in Southport comes two months after reports that Martha Stewart had quietly put her nearby Turkey Hill Road South house on the market for $10 million. A Stewart spokewoman denied the report.

UPDATE: Donahue told The Advocate of Norwalk that he and his wife are not leaving town, the newspaper reported Thursday. “We’ll be staying right here in the neighborhood,” he said. “We’re not leaving Westport.” He spoke while talking an afternoon walk outside his home.

The Donahue-Thomas home is actually three contiguous lots—112, 114 and 116 Beachside Ave. comprising 7.7 acres. Donahue bought the adjoining property some years ago and caused some controversy when he demolished a home to improve his water views.

Going Down: 54 Bayberry Lane

54bayberrygone08150501.jpg
The house at 54 Bayberry Lane came down today, making good on a sign that has been posted on the property for about six months. The property, featured as the WestportNow teardown on Dec. 15, 2004, sold in March for $662,500. The house, built in 1948, will be replaced by a 5,500-sq-ft house, according to Todd Seligson, 25, son of developer Stanley Seligson. The owner purchased a tree from the Town of Westport for $5,000 that will be cut down to make room for a new driveway. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Dave Matlow for WestportNow.com

Westport Property Transfers Aug. 1-5, 2005

Property transfers as reported by the Westport Town Clerk’s office for the period Aug. 1-5, 2005:

SRC LLC to Jennifer L. Stein, 12 Terhune Drive, $2,150,000WN property.jpg

Mark S. and Raynor Cunningham to Brian F. and Anna T. Tobben, 4 Joann Circle, $1,200,000

Richard Ellenbogen and Debra Weissman to Jill E. Weinstein, 150 Bayberry Lane, $2,160,000

Brian J. and Helen H. Cleary to Richard Ellenbogen and Debra Weissman, 16 Fairfield Ave., $1,900,000

Mary Lee Stiegler to Kathleen S. and Carl J. Fazio, 9 Chapel Hill Road, $887,500