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There was a flurry of activity at the Paul Rudolph-designed house at 16 Minute Man Hill this afternoon after reports came in to the Westport Building Department that wrecking crews were on site.
The Paul Rudolph-designed house at Westport’s 16 Minute Man Hill shows signs of structural damage today—a support pillar (r) was cracked—although the town has yet to issue a demolition permit. A wall at the edge of the driveway was also smashed. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) WestportNow.com photo
A demolition permit has not been issued by building officials, and the Connecticut Trust for Historic Preservation will be seeking a temporary injunction on the demolition during a court hearing on Friday.
Workers were at the house around 4 p.m. with a small bulldozer, but an official with the crew who did not identify himself said the house was not going to be demolished today and would not be until no sooner than early next week.
Fire Inspector Nate Gibbons arrived at the scene at around 4 p.m. and later said an outside wall had been knocked down but no demolition work had been done to the house.
First Selectman Gordon Joseloff and Historic District Commission Chairman Morley Boyd also visited the house late this afternoon.
Boyd said some structural damage has been done to the house.
The Connecticut Trust for Historic Preservation has filed for a injunction on the demolition, he said, and there will be a hearing in Stamford Superior Court at 10 a.m. on Friday.
The trust found earlier this week the house to be eligible for the National Register of Historic Places, he said, and under that finding the trust can ask for an injunction under the state Environmental Protection Act.
The preservation of historic resources falls under the law, he said.
If the trust’s officials can make their case in court on Friday, he said, an injunction will be in place until the matter can be explored further.
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).
I applaud the forces that are trying to stop the demolition of this architectural gem. I hope the dammage that has already taken place does not endanger the survival of the house. I feel certain that it is eligble for inclusion in the National Register of Historic Places. We can not continue to destroy any more of our irreplaceable architecturaly significant houses.
Calling for a boycott of local businesses is wrong. Period.
Let
The definition of a boycott is
Can’t believe the blatant disregard for the law exhibited by Waldman. It would seem that to handle some one like Waldman the town would need to post the Westport Police at the site of the house 24 hours.
I am SO grateful that there are people in this town who are aware of good architecture and design and blow the whistle when something of treasure is about to be lost. We are so lucky to have them on the alert for us, because once these developers get in and bulldoze, the only thing that comes out of that is yet another indistinquishable, prefab mega “house”.
Thanks to all those who are working so dilligently behind the scenes (at great personal cost) merely for the presevervation of things beautiful and of value to this town.
I will comment on the Dowtown Merchants $14 million dollar plan. It completes the mallinization of downtown Westport. It offers little for most Westporters, but will draw more out of town shoppers. Also, should we have to pay $1.50 an hour to park in our own home town? The Town should not approve or fund this undesirable project. Remember, the Town was left holding the bag for Parker Harding Plaza though a legal loophole. It was supposed to have been paid for by the Downtown Merchants.