An application is in process for a permit to demolish the house at 82 Hillspoint Road. Built in 1810, the house known as the Stratton-Rippe House is listed on Westport’s Historic Resources Inventory for Buildings and Structures. According to documentation by the Connecticut Historical Commission, “it survives as a well preserved statement of a substantial, picturesquely detailed farmhouse.” The two-story antique has 2,042 square feet and is situated on 1.25 acres. The house, currently owned by the Leo A. Gordon estate, is for sale during the demolition application process. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Dave Matlow for WestportNow.com
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37 thoughts on “WestportNow Teardown of the Day: 82 Hillspoint Road”
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IF this goes down this will be the peak of the madness and truely points to a lack of leadership in this town to preserve our heritage. STOP THE MADNESS
Agreed—we need to prevent the destruction of our beautiful town! Please, P&Z;/RTM, take notice!
Again? Another charming home bites the dust!
At what point will the town body collectively realize we are removing the town’s history and character building by building, with all trees clear cut to the property line for the financial benefit of the owner/ builder. This is land rape!
This is the house where they sold off the property behind (so making money for the family/estate and putting up several McMansions) but they thankfully left this beautiful house standing. This IS madness to destroy such a beautiful home. The builders are vying with the buyers out there who LOVES classic farmhouses, but since the builder can easily add on an extra $200,000 to the cost of a McMansion, guess who will win the bidding war? Shameful, and when will there be solutions in our town?
If you want the VALUE in your house to remain, please help us stop the destruction so that there will remain a wide and charming variety of houses in Westport.
Anyone know how much they are asking?
I recall meeting the current owner of this house months ago, in Winslow Park, while walking our dogs. Her Dad’s house had been on the market over one year at that point, and she hadn’t gotten one nibble. Not one. Folks, it’s a free market. If no one writing these letters bids on these properties, nothing will change the teardown syndrome. And our letters accomplish nothing.
For all of the older home owners in town: If you want the VALUE of your home to remain, then all property owners should be allowed the same rights without regard to the age of their home.
If you want to know the sales details:
$975,000 ($477 per Sqft
Rooms: 8
Bedrooms: 4
Baths: 2 full / 1 half
Style: Colonial, Farm House, Antique
Year Built: 1810
Garage: 1-car
Heating: Radiators, Oil
Basement: Full, Unfinished, Interior Access, Bulkhead, Sump Pump
Approx Sq. Feet: 2,042
Acreage: 1.25
Est. Taxes: $13,324
Days on Market: 75 days
I believe the number of days on market does not include the renewal of sales offering.
This house is beautiful, but if no one is willing to buy it, what can an owner, given the present circumstances, do?
Is there enough room remaining behind the house to plant a buffer of trees? Evergreens are a wonderful way to provide privacy.
This is truely PATHETIC.
There will be no more “oh’s and ah’s”when Westport is mentioned in conversation.
This beautiful New England town is now nothing more than a
McMansion-McUgly boring- looking anywhere USA town.
Ahhhhh…..greed!!!!!
Rhoda Berke
The battle to save what’s left of charming architecture in Westport is an uphill one. I think time and effort of people who appreciate the importance of architecure in our community would be better spent working to stop these builders of new homes from erecting the dreck that they do—the four new ones on Cross Highway being a perfect example. While just down the road, a family has chosen to restore a vintage collection of small structures to modern usability without disturbing the charm of the site. And it was they who had to fight town hall, not the oafish developer up the road! Why is that? These builders are being allowed to destroy Westport—lot by lot—to line their own pockets, and it doesn’t have to be. Citizens arise! I’ll be happy to lead.
Question: Why were the majority of P&Z;members returned in the last election? If there is a way to send a message, it would seem to me to be at the ballot box.
There is a way to keep these houses in town: Give financial incentives to the owners, in the form of tax breaks.
This would be a big shame to loose this fine home. I have been in the house and it has GREAT BONES! I actually looked at it with a client. The kitchen space could be reconfigured and you would have a lovely home. I would be happy to help with the design. And I can help with the desire to purchase the home. It’s a shame about the Mcmansions behind the home that loom over this VERY NICE HOME.
This is unreal. The cavalier wasting of historic homes in this town is sheer insanity. Pretty soon Westport will look like a rich man’s version of Orange County, CA with mile after mile of boring and souless new houses.
This house was on the market for 6 months in 2007 at $1.089M, and for the past 75 days at the current price of $975K. It is a beautiful house and very special inside – and it used to have wonderful property until it was turned into a mini- subdivision.
I suspect that the reason it’s not selling isn’t just the price, but the fact that there are two giant McMansions built practically on top of it in the rear, which has destroyed the privacy and backyard of
# 82. Besides being on a busy road, the huge houses in back looming over this lovely little antique have undoubtedly devalued it and impacted its saleability.
Maybe instead of tearing it down, someone with a heart and some aesthetic sense will move it to nice vacant lot in Weston or Redding, where there’s still an appreciation for historic preservation among the masses.
As for Westport, it’s looking like its urbanization is at the point of no return.
I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again. In 10 years there won’t be a single house left in the Town of Westport under 15 years of age or 6,000 square feet. Westport used to be a pretty and charming place. Now, it’s pretty full of GIANT, UGLY MCMANSIONs!!!! What a legacy…
Darn it. We debate this on WestportNow (thankfully it’s here) but there is little debate in the two town papers (in Letters to the Editor) so the town at large doesn’t keep up on this. I think the hands of the P&Z;have been tied in the past, but new regulations are coming on the books. I’d love to have members of the P&Z;reply to WestportNow to tell us what THEY can do and what backing they need for Westport to remain a charming town. Some McMansions are beautiful, but the overall look of the town has become so ugly.
This house has special importance and memories for me and our family, as my grandmother lived right next door during the late 1950s and 1960s. The house always had an enduring aura and stateliness, sitting atop the hill. I’m sure many of us have felt reassured to pass signature homes like this, which are dwindling but proud survivors of the teardown phenomenon that has trampled so many historic properties around town. This latest news regarding 82 Hillspoint is truly heartbreaking and puts a huge dent in everyone’s comfort level. I keep thinking that we can’t possibly see another devastating historic teardown that’s more painful than the last one, yet here we are. How many historic teardowns are enough? How many are too many? And how will we know when we’ve absolutely hit rock bottom?
This house is almost 200 years old AND A RARITY!!!! James Madison was President when this house was built. WHAT A SHAME!!!! Why is this homeowner in such a rush to make more money where a profit has already been realized? Shame on the impatient current owner, the uncaring builder and the unimaginative architect who should know better. In my opinion, the McMansion that replaces this gem will probably be so huge and energy inefficient that it will end up being re-zoned as a multi-family condo!!! In fact good citizens of Westport, imagine this happening to all of the obscenely large homes in Town. With fuel prices on the rise, that reality is on its way to your neighborhood.
I did a “drive by” this house today. I stopped to look at the size of the property, since our town website seems to be out of commission. The property, although backed by two McMansions is still very nice and a good size, and, as someone already suggested, would benefit from screening of trees. This would really keep the view natural and private.
I wish someone with an appreciation for this lovely house would save it from the wrecking ball.
Am I correct in understanding that this sort of thing could NOT happen in Wilton or Weston?
That these towns have laws on the books that prevent the destruction of their own history?
And, if so, why don’t we have these laws?
This house is a perfect example of “the historic fabric of Westport” And should be preserved. I mean, this place is on a registry – but it’s not protected? Clearly, this is a hole in our town code.
Someone who knows more please tell me!
The Inventory that this house is on is merely a list of all of the older structures in Westport. It is not the same as being in a designated historic district, where there are added restrictions on the home owner. Except for a possible longer delay in the the demolition process, there are no other restrictions on older structures (>50 yrs.???).
I do not know the regulations in other towns.
ABSOLUTELY UN (EXPLETIVE) BELIEVABLE!!! REPREHENSIBLE, CRIMINAL!! This is the most shocking teardown yet. John Franklin, of all people, your comments are endlessly disappointing and callous. The difference in value to homes in this town, should precious gems like this be shielded from the wrecking ball, will only be negligible, if unchanged…conversely, it’s the disapperance of structures like this that will ultimately make this town a less attractive place to settle, bringing down property values. The question is, what makes a town a valued place to live in the first place? Mass developement and gutting a town of it’s historic charm always spells the decline of property values in the long run.
Maybe we could get it re zoned so that it could be used for a small commercial space like a law office, design studio or something that keeps the charm of the building in tack. SORRY NOT ANOTHER BANK!
Rebecca Ellsley
Mr. Barber, I do not believe that we know each other. So I am not sure where your “of all people” comment comes from. Anyway, I agree with you that in the long run, losing too many older homes probably does have a negative impact on home value. But, to the individual home owner, not looking years out, the property value is higher without a smaller old home on it. That is the reality.
It is sad to see these old homes go, but why should the person that owns the old home be obligated to preserve the charm of the town?
Maybe someone on this blog would like to contact the owner and send him/her these comments. When there was a similar flap over the antique house on Woodside Ave, the owner and the builder backed off. And there the house still sits.
Try communicating your shock and sadness to the owner.
As a newcomer to this town (almost a year at the end of the month), I was initially struck by the beauty of the homes. However, in the year that I’ve been here, I’ve witnessed these senseless teardowns that just break my heart. Currently, we’re living in a small cottage on Main Street and it is a joy to live in a structure that has been used as a home, an art studio, an apothecary, an antique shop, and even as a butchers. It’s not large and I dare not figure out the square footage, but it is a comfortable home with a history.
The pleathora of McMansions is a sad state of affairs that is even apparent to my seven year old. She’s been in the homes of her McMansion living playmates, but says how they’re not as special as our little cottage or our friend’s family home on the other side of town. For the sake of this incredible town, I hope P&Z;wake up and smell the latte before it’s too late. If not, I see a strip mall along Compo Beach coming soon. Dunkin Donuts, Nail Salon, and Sand. Oh, my!
And check out the Vision (hence Town) appraisal of this property – at $1,386,300 (leading to an assessed value of $970,410) it is clear that the estate is in the position of overpaying property taxes. The executor is indeed in a difficult position.
Vision’s methods resulted in the overvaluation of many older homes in town. It will be interesting to see what happens at the next reval in a couple of years with the declining housing market.
Mr. Franklin, no hard feelings, no disrespect, heavens. You are well known and well thought of in Westport – we the foolishly sentimental want you on board with us! At first glance, I thought the photo was of a home receiving a preservation award – until I read the caption, and fell off my chair. My rage got the better of me.
Some of us feel that there SHOULD be an obligation on the part of buyers of historic homes like this one, by law, to preserve them or sod off, look for some other town to decimate… why can’t that “hole in our town code,” non-existant in so many other New England towns, be sealed up, to keep these structures from falling into the hands of idiots? It seems so simple.
Jim, while I like to think that I am well known and well thought of, you may be confusing me with someone else. Since I have lived in Westport, there have been 3 John Franklins in town.
The only point that we disagree on is the obligation of the owners of these older homes. I live in an old home, yet I purposely avoided any house that was restricted by historic district regulations. I did not want to buy a house with the extra restrictions on its use. I do not want those added restrictions now.
Take heart that one of the other 2 John Franklins may still agree whole-heartedly with you. 😉
As I have opined before, the answer seems to lie in making it financially attractive for those who own historic homes to keep and maintain them (tax abatement) and restore them (building code relief, tax abatement) since the alternative (restricting what a property owner can do with his house, even if he intends to knock it down) is much harder to accomplish in our Town (and maybe rightly so). I really don’t take offense at the comments such as “well then buy the house and save it yourself” since that is the current reality.
I also agree with the earlier comment that the first nail in the coffin here was when the heirs were allowed to subdivide the lot, and larger homes were built looming up behind this beauty.
The house, although a pre-teardown, is on 1.25 acres, according to vision Appraisals. and is 2,400+ sq ft. 75 days on market is not that long considering the current market. I wish the owners would wait a bit longer. I would also hope it is being marketed properly – The Old House Journal, eg.
Given the current high inventory of homes on the market in Westport, it now takes longer to sell a home than what we’ve been accustomed to in the past decade.
But there is ALWAYS as buying market for antique and vintage homes. Granted, it’s a smaller pool of buyers and these homes take longer to sell – but there are always buyers for antique homes. For some people, an antique is the only kind of house they’ll ever consider. So the market is there. It just takes some patience to move these homes and for the right buyer to come along.
It seems to me that adding evergreen screening in the backyard to give this home some privacy from the houses in back would help a lot. Strategic pricing and expansive marketing is everything in real estate sales anymore. Just the 30-something comments on this webpage calls attention to its specialness and need to be saved from the wrecking ball by an antique lover.
I, too, hope the owners will wait longer before they tear down this historic beauty. Because once it’s gone, it’s gone for good.
My husband and I just returned from a trip to Newport, RI and Boston, MA. Although I have been to these two lovely locations in the past, I was in awe of the beautiful older homes and buildings (circa 1700’s to 1800’s) that have been preserved. I am not talkng about the REAL mansions in Newport, but of the lovely smaller homes that have been preserved. I kept thinking what a mistake Westport has made.
I am a forty year resident and could go on forever about Main Street and our neighborhoods. I have read the comments about teardowns for quite some time, and have not seen much regarding the quality of life that residents have to endure while this construction is taking place. We have lived with construction for EIGHT years within a 1000 foot radius of our home. I have confronted contracters regarding trucks parked in front of my home, the personal property damage that has taken place, and the noise ordinance. I have heard numerous stories from residents who have had to contend with similar situations. I have called P&Z;, the Building Department, and the Police
Department.
People have asked why I complain often because these mega monstrosities will increase the value of my home. THEY WILL NOT, as I have lost all privacy in my back yard and my front yard. My home is small, and will be marketed for the land value only.
AND, I need some sleep, let alone peace and quiet.
ahhhh, wouldn’t that be lovely!!!!!!!!
Would someone please keep updating us about the property transfer and what is planned for this beautiful home? Thanks so much.
If you really want to save an historic property in your neighborhood, then you should make your home and the home you want to save part of a local historic district like Kings Highway North Historic District, the Jesup Road Historic District, the Violet Lane Historic District, the Gorham Avenue Historic District and the Evergreen Avenue Historic District. Houses in these Historic Districts are very well protected from the wrecking ball
You only need 2/3rds of the property owners affirmative vote to set up an historic district (plus state and RTM concurrence). So be a radical and do this in your neighborhood and your property instead of quietly (or not so quietly) bemoaning the fact that the RTM and P&Z;are “doing nothing.”
Here is a link to the Historic District Commission with instructions on how to do it. We did it. Join us.
http://www.westportct.gov/agencies/landuse/hdc-office.htm
BTW, the RTM did extend to 180 days the demolition postponement authority of the HDC.
John McCarthy
Resident of the Gorham Avenue Historic District
and Member of the RTM, District 9
P.S. While I was at Staples our school bus skidded on the ice and took out the hedge of this house. Historic good times.