By Gretchen Webster

WESTPORT — Historic preservation is a hot topic in Westport as the town readies a state-funded project to develop a preservation plan for historic buildings, local officials hosted a statewide training forum for preservationists last week.

But historic preservation became a hotter topic than anyone expected Tuesday when a member of the Historic District Commission harshly criticized an architect and land-use consultant she said were failing to preserve historic buildings.

“I have never been interrupted by a commissioner in this way in a hearing in my 40 years of doing this. I’m shocked,” architect Jack Franzen said in reaction to the criticism.

Franzen was addressing Wendy Van Wie, a member of the Historic District Commission, after she scolded him and land-use consultant Gloria Gouveia for what Van Wie called a failure to properly preserve a small building on property at 35 Wright St.

The use of new materials to repair the structure, including insulating it and repairing the foundation, are not appropriate in a historic district, Van Wie said. The Wright Street property is located in the King’s Highway Historic District.

Van Wie offered a detailed critique of the property’s development team, listing what she said are the do’s and don’ts of rehabilitating a historic building — and which she said they aren’t doing.

Although the rehabilitation plan called for maintaining the look and bones of the small accessory structure, and to replace as closely as possible historical features in the building that had to be repaired, it was not enough for Van Wie.

“Where are the historical elements?” Van Wie asked. “What are you saving?”

“You have misstated a number of facts, and that needs to be corrected,” Gouveia said to Van Wie. “Accusing the property owners of neglecting this property is libelous. …Would you please mute yourself so you don’t interrupt me?”

The other three members of the Historic District Commission and Architectural Review Board attending the joint virtual meeting agreed with Franzen and Gouveia.

The property owners were doing their best to maintain the character of a building that was in disrepair, they said. Money and time were spent to rehabilitate the small accessory building, which is to be used as a rental unit on the Wright Street property.

“They’re making a strong attempt to preserve the building,” said Martha Eidman, a member of the Historic District Commission. “How do we save buildings unless there is some leeway to restore the materials that are decrepit and falling apart?” 

If Westport officials don’t make allowances for historic buildings to be carefully repaired and rehabilitated using new materials, historic buildings will eventually deteriorate and be lost, she said.

“There has to be some voice of reason as to what is practical,” Eidman said. “We have to have some flexibility or there will be nothing left to preserve.”

She called for a vote on the project after an hour of heated discussion.

The commission voted to recommend the project to the Planning and Zoning Commission in a 3-1 vote, with Van Wie dissenting.

Treadwell rehabilitation plan approved

The joint boards also approved the rehabilitation of an 1880s barn at 48 Treadwell Ave., owned by Samuel and Sharon Carpenter. 

The project involves restoring the barn’s stone foundation, insulating the interior and replacing the roofing. The siding and timber frame would remain. 

The unanimous approval moves the application on to the Planning and Zoning Commission. The property is not located in a historic district.

Freelance writer Gretchen Webster, a Fairfield County journalist and journalism teacher for many years, was editor of the Fairfield Minuteman newspaper for 10 years and currently teaches journalism at Southern Connecticut State University.