No further demolition can take place at 16 Minute Man Hill until a Jan. 2 court hearing on a temporary injunction. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Dave Matlow for WestportNow.com
By Jennifer Connic
The fate of the Paul Rudolph-designed house at Westport’s 16 Minute Man Hill won’t be decided until the new year.
Stamford Superior Court Judge Taggart D. Adams today ordered no further demolition to the house until a Jan. 2 hearing can be held.
The Connecticut Trust for Historic Preservation is seeking a temporary injunction on the demolition of the house because it has found that it is eligible to be listed on the National Register of Historic Places (See WestportNow Dec. 21).
Morley Boyd, Historic District Commission chairman who was present at the court proceedings, said a decision on the temporary injunction was put off until Jan. 2, and the two sides will argue their sides of the case then.
David Waldman, who owns the house, could not immediately be reached for comment.
Helen Higgins, trust executive director, said the house is “truly amazing,” and until recently there was no legal way to stop the demolition.
Once state officials determined that the house was eligible for study to be placed on the National Register of Historic Places, she said, a legal means to stop the demolition unfolded, and the group is fulfilling an obligation under the law.
Philip Walker, attorney representing the trust, said trust officials believe there is deterioration and damage to the house because of an opening to the roof.
“A substantial part of the house is exposed to the elements,” he said. “If bad weather moves in—and we believe rain is coming in tonight—there could be further deterioration.”
The interior of the house is made from wood, he said, and water would have a significant impact.
The judge, however, did not include a tarp or other protection on the roof in his order, he said.
The two sides plan to discuss that among themselves soon, he said.
Town officials came to the house late Thursday afternoon after several people called the Westport Building Department stating wrecking crews were at the site. No demolition permit has been issued for the site.
The Rudolph House has been the attention of many architects and historic preservationists over the last few weeks since it first appeared on WestportNow as a Teardown of the Day (See WestportNow Dec. 13).
The New York Times also brought a spotlight onto the battle over the house (See WestportNow Dec. 16).
In its Saturday edition, the Times reported that during the hearing, the historic preservation group argued that with rain forecast over the weekend, the house could suffer “demolition by neglect.”
Lets take a breath.
I love modern. And the new modern being built is amazing, as was some of the old.
Its great when an eccentric or collector comes along and scoops up a perceived treasure that you or I would not buy or live in. It makes our communities feel diverse and that makes us feel good. I love the guy who takes his horse and buggy around town. It makes me smile. We are all the better for someone preserving a relic from from the past. But its a passion by choice.
So why did this treasure not get scooped up? Hmmm, maybe its not worth historically what you are all suggesting. Nobody wants to live in that house the way it is.
Is your house old style modern? I doubt it. Honestly I wanted to build a very modern home, but hedged my bets with a more realistic style. The home is most families primary nest egg. When you drive around Westport is that “egg” modern or more traditional? Are the home sales in Fairfield heavy on the modern? Or do we still feel really comfy with our more traditional New England roots?
Next time a modern comes up for sale you should all buy it.
Maybe you will not have to wait for that passionate person to come along and scoop it off your hands.
In era of faux colonial McMansions, it is heartening to read there are still people that appreciate architectural integrity that goes beyond big, bigger and biggest. The Micheels House is a national treasure. One can only hope that Mr. Waldman recognizes the vital role he could play in preserving this gem. He has the opportunity to give something back to the community that has given him so much.