By James Lomuscio
Westport’s Historic Resources Inventory describes the circa 1900 wooden building at 535 Post Road East as “unusual for having survived relatively intact” on one of the town’s major commercial strips.
Terrain withdraw an application that called for demolition of the house at 535 Post Road East. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Dave Matlow for WestportNow.com
Today, preservationists are celebrating yet another survival for the structure.
The building had been eyed for the wrecking ball by Terrain. But the retailer today—hours before it was scheduled to go before the Historic District Commission (HDC) tonight, and the Planning and Zoning Commission on Thursday (P&Z)—pulled its controversial site plan application that called for the demolition of house to net eight parking spaces at its sprawling greenhouse/cafe home center.
“They’re going to be submitting a revised plan later this week that provides an additional 29 parking spaces, but saves the house,” said Planning and Zoning Director Laurence Bradley.
He said the plan includes zero use of the house, therefore not requiring any parking spaces, with the additional parking coming from areas reclaimed from outdoor retail use.
Terrain’s new plan is scheduled to go before the HDC on Tuesday, July 9, and the P&Z, Thursday, July 18.
“It sounds wonderful,” said Carol Leahy, HDC staff administrator, about the application being pulled. “The Historic District Commission and all involved are greatly pleased.
“The net of it is that there is an alternate plan,” added.
Leahy said that Ken Nemeth, senior development manager for Urban Outfitters, which owns Terrain, contacted her and Bradley this morning.
“He said, ‘We were able to make everything work from a parking perspective and also save the house,’ ” Leahy said.
She attributed the reversal to public outrage generated Monday after reports of the planned demolition went public. She cited a video posted on YouTube by Matthew Mandell, a Representative Town Meting (RTM) member.
“I have to say I received many phone calls and emails expressing opposition to the demolition,” she said. Bradley said he also received scores of emails.
Mandel’s video includes interviews with Bradley, RTM member Cathy Talmadge and Francis Henkels, HDC chairman. Henkels stressed that historic home, which was later converted to commercial use, was important to the town.
According to Leahy, the building remains the last wooden structure in commercial area.
“It’s a great victory for the town and its residents,” Mandell said. “It shows the results that can happen when the community gets together and acts as one. Hopefully this is an example for future development in this town, and that while there can be change, there must also be historic preservation.”
When asked why he led the video campaign since his district is Saugatuck, not Post Road East, Mandell responded, “It’s my town, though.”
Uh, to a layperson, what does “zero use of the house” actually mean? Can offices be in there, or does Terrain plan to keep it an empty shell that can deteriorate? I’d love to know what that phrase means.
You are correct Linda. There is no provision in the zoning regulations allowing for 0 parking spaces to support a zero use of a building. Terrain will need to ask for “relief” from the Planning and Zoning Commission or some kind of interpretation for such a parking standard. Interested parties should contact P&Z Director Laurence Bradley at the Planning and Zoning Department for more information on Terrain’s revised plans (which have not been received yet) in anticipation of the continuation of the public hearing on this application (which has not been scheduled yet).
-Mary Young
I love the idea of the old house becoming Terrain’s Cafe! It would be a charming addition to the town and a big feather in Terrain’s cap! Not knowing the cost of renovation to such a structure and bringing it up to code as well as repurposing the existing space within Terrain, my pipe dream is little more than just that, I suppose.
Plus, I’m sure the Terrain Powers-that-Be would factor in the possible lost revenue of customers visiting only the old house cafe and not entering the garden center proper…but who knows, if it were to be THEIR idea, I’m sure they would deem it, “Brilliant!”
We’ll see, at least we’re not going to see a demolition. Bravo to Terrain on that score. Bravo!
Lovely idea, Susan! And if it was done in a charming way, that would just entice customers to have a great lunch and then go shop for items they’d seen in Terrain’s Cafe. Hope the powers-that-be read WestportNow’s comments! 🙂