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Norwalk: Public Hearing On Fate Of West Main Victorian Houses


by turfgrrl


February 12th, 2008 · 12 Comments

Although a demolition permit has been filed, the developer plans to attend the public hearing and says that he’s not opposed to keeping the buildings.

Preservationists are hopeful that the fate of five old houses in the West Main Street neighborhood will come into clearer focus after a public hearing before the Norwalk Historical Commission on Wednesday night.

“Not only are (the houses) architecturally significant in that district — those vernacular, Victorian houses are very much in the character of that neighborhood — also, they’re providing real, unsubsidized, affordable housing,” said Tod Bryant, Norwalk Preservation Trust president. “We’d like to be able to work with the developers and the neighbors, and find something that works well there. The point of the public hearing is to open the dialogue and work with the developer.”

The public hearing is scheduled for Wednesday at 7 p.m. in Room 101 of City Hall, 125 East Ave.

source: The Hour, Activist says hearing may clarify status of 5 houses, By ROBERT KOCH, February 12, 2008

Tags: History · Norwalk

12 Responses so far ↓ “Norwalk: Public Hearing On Fate Of West Main Victorian Houses”



  • 1 Anonymous // Feb 12, 2008 at 1:50 pm

    This is Norwalk and the developers make the rules here not the mayor. Norwalk moving the developers net worth ahead, ruining Norwalk one block at a time.

  • 2 nwlknative // Feb 12, 2008 at 2:48 pm

    I certainly hope if they save the houses, they don’t add on to them like the ones on Main Street. Overbuilt, overcrowded condos attached to “historical” homes. The homes, left by themselves, would have been significantly more attractive. What is the point of saving a historical structure and then adding ugly condos onto the back or side?

  • 3 high road // Feb 12, 2008 at 3:22 pm

    It’s called “compromise”. Developers need to make a profit; that’s what they’re in business to do. The City, though, should stick up for the best interests of the citizens and provide zoning or other incentives that would let developers make money without having to resort to the kind of crowding we see on the Main Street project. NPT did the best it could under the current regulations.

    Would you rather see the restored houses with condos in the back or more shotgun, trailer like condos right on the street? It’s not the ideal — but it’s better than what could have been there.

    And, hopefully if the developer makes money, it will pave the way for other developers to consider including the old houses instead of demolishing. If the City provided some presrvation zoning incentives, we might really get somewhere.

  • 4 Anonymous // Feb 12, 2008 at 5:55 pm

    Let’s just hope the developer isn’t talking out of both sides of his mouth like what happened on Stuart Ave. Of course, having the City facilitate the agreement to keep the houses instead of tearing them down would help. But I don’t expect Handrinos bud Moochie to lift a finger after what happened across the street from City Hall.

  • 5 anon // Feb 13, 2008 at 11:31 am

    I agree with #3 completely and the fact that the developer is willing to compromise is a wonderful thing for Norwalk. He could have chosen to play hardball. It shows respect for history and Norwalk and a good business sense and I applaud him, let’s hope it becomes a trend.

  • 6 Tonight // Feb 13, 2008 at 11:49 am

    Just to be clear…THIS developer (West Main) has not indicated anything as yet except a willingness to attend the public hearing and listen to comments. So a lot hinges on what he hears. Let’s hope he sees a way to achieve an outcome that benefits the neighborhood as well as his own intersts.

  • 7 Al Raymond // Feb 13, 2008 at 12:13 pm

    I will be at the hearing tonight and I hope everyone that reads this blog and all there freinds will be there also. This is not the first time we have had a public hearing on this project but it is the first time with this developer. It is our job to make sure that we the people make it clear that we think it`s important to save our history and keep to the character of what ever neighborhood were talking about. Most of the developers don`t live in Norwalk so most don`t care we need to let them know that we live here and we do care.Tod Bryant has done a great job in trying to preserve Norwalk`s history but he can`t do it by him self lets get out tonight and help him.

  • 8 Anonymous // Feb 14, 2008 at 9:47 am

    The developer’s is quoted as saying that “When someone in my profession pulls a [demolition] permit, it doesn’t necessarily mean he’s going to tear the building down…”

    Just what purpose does filing for a demo permit serve, then? I found his remarks to be disingenuous at best.

    His vague responses to other questions didn’t serve to convince me that he plans to “…bring the neighborhood back to a neighborhood, conceptually…”

    Is that a bruise on my ass from falling off the turnip truck?

  • 9 Been there // Feb 14, 2008 at 10:11 am

    The murky ownership and the good cop/bad cop tactics of the developer leave me with a very uncomfortable feeling about any sort of good outcome.

    The “good cop” kept talking about “neighborhood…quality…my family’s name…100 years in the business…leave a legacy…”etc. etc. The “bad cop” henchman kept mouthing thinly veiled threats like “you have to be flexible…don’t make it difficult…owner will walk away…abandon it…hole in the ground…pile of rubble” etc. etc.

    Both of them, of course, are now comfortably back in their Wilton or Stratford neighborhoods. Once again, it’s just another “project” for them but it’s home to us.

  • 10 anonymous // Feb 14, 2008 at 10:54 am

    Didn’t we go through all this in october and november when the preservationists were going to mobilize everyone and vote out the mayor because so many peoiple care about these delapitated old buildings?

  • 11 Been there // Feb 14, 2008 at 11:10 am

    Most people in town don’t care…period. That doesn’t make it right or detract from the efforts of those who do.

  • 12 anonymous // Feb 14, 2008 at 2:30 pm

    I agree #11, and ultimately, other than being inconvenienced for 90 days, the developer can still tear his houses down if that is what he decides to do.

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