By John Schwing

WESTPORT — The nearly two-decade fight over a proposal to build an apartment project in a small, middle-class neighborhood on Hiawatha Lane Extension may not be over.

Despite a recent Superior Court ruling that sets aside neighbors’ challenge to the 157-apartment complex, with 30 percent “affordable”  units, the Save Old Saugatuck group is vowing to appeal that decision.

That appeal, however, depends on raising enough money — about $50,000 — to continue the legal challenge, SOS says.

In a posting on the SOS website, the neighborhood group says, “We are here now once again ready to snatch our own ‘victory from the jaws of defeat,’ ” in reference to the judge’s ruling against its challenge.

The decision by Superior Court Judge Marshall Berger, according to the statement, is viewed by the SOS group’s lawyer as “weak enough, flawed enough and sufficient enough to warrant an immediate and vigorous appeal.”

In justifying the appeal, the neighbors argue, “We have come too far to simply relinquish our sincere efforts and the many successes we have achieved, especially while there are viable pathways to further success that are still within our reach.”

And, according to SOS, a benefit of filing the appeal will be to buy time in its fight against the apartment project, which town officials abandoned last July in a court-approved settlement.

An appeal, according to the neighbors, opens a window “from 12 to 18 months to present our case, hear a response and then proceed with any and all steps in between. And in the meantime, this puts a hold on any further building efforts …”

But, SOS admits, money is needed to continue the legal battle.

“Our biggest challenge now is continuing to fund the legal efforts of our attorney for this next round of the processes,” the group says. Money, is “a very important object that is necessary to continue our efforts.”

The group has set a $50,000 fundraising goal to “cover the current balance owed, plus the appeal process.” Donations to the neighbors’ campaign can be posted online here or by mailing them to: Save Old Saugatuck, 29 Hiawatha Lane Ext. Westport, CT 06880.

John Schwing, the Westport Journal consulting editor, has held senior editorial and writing posts at southwestern Connecticut media outlets for four decades. Learn more about us here.