Westport’s Representative Town Meeting (RTM) tonight voted unanimously to designate the Lincoln Street-Riverside Avenue area as a historic district, a move local residents have been pushing for the past decade to help preserve their neighborhood.
The historic district designation could aid in preventing development. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Dave Matlow for WestportNow.com
The request made by the Historic District Commission to amend the town’s code of ordinances had the support of Save Westport Now, a nonpartisan political organization aimed at preservation, as well as RTM members representing District 2.
“These are my neighbors, and I would like you to support them,” said RTM member Lou Mall. “They’re seeking to preserve and protect their neighborhood, and I would like you to support them.”
“We are a neighborhood that has survived many challenges,” said Tina Torraco, a lead petitioner.
The most recent challenge for the neighborhood of 1800s-built and early 1900s-built homes involved plans for an 81-unit apartment complex proposed at the corner of Lincoln Street and Post Road West, a proposal that was denied by the town’s Planning and Zoning Commission in October. (See WestportNow Oct. 11, 2018)
Historic designation could potentially make it more difficult for courts to overturn a denial from local governing bodies.
RTM member Matthew Mandell stressed the importance of the designation, citing his dismay when he witnessed an 1835 Federalist home go the way of the bulldozer.
RTM member Carla Rea also spoke in favor of the designation, urging the town “to preserve whatever we can.”
“We must do it,” Rea said.
Joan Miller, who lives at 68 Riverside Ave., said the designation was a long time coming.
“We started this project 10 years ago,” she said. “We hope this is finally passed tonight.”
— James Lomuscio
