By Thane Grauel
WESTPORT — The second 8-30g “affordable” housing plan filed for the Hiawatha Lane neighborhood has been withdrawn, for now.
The Zucaro family had planned to demolish 5 and 7 Hiawatha Lane with a five-story, 42-unit building. The structure would have filled most of the land and included a parking area beneath.
The two properties are 0.73 acres together and are owned by Faustina Zucaro. On the land now is a five-apartment structure and a two-apartment structure.
“On behalf of the owners of 5&7 Hiawatha we are withdrawing this application,” the applicant’s representative, Cathy Walsh, wrote to Planning and Zoning Director Mary Young on Feb. 9. “We will be resubmitting at a later date.”
Walsh, a former Planning and Zoning Commission member, couldn’t be reached for comment Monday.
It’s the second such project envisioned for the neighborhood between Interstate 95, Saugatuck Avenue, the Metro-North tracks and the Norwalk city line. The other was Summit Saugatuck, a 157-unit complex on Hiawatha Lane Extension, bordering the Norwalk city line.
The initial application for 5 and 7 Hiawatha was filed with the Planning and Zoning Commission in December. Thirty percent of the units would be set aside as “affordable,” Walsh said in the application materials.
Summit Saugatuck’s three-building plan, also filed under the state’s 8-30g housing legislation was stalled for years by a challenge brought by neighbors. That case ended in December when the Connecticut Supreme Court declined an appeal of its decision not to hear the case.
Carolanne Curry of Save Old Saugatuck was not a fan of the initial Zucaro proposal. She said in December it was ugly and that the property was too small for the proposed development. She said architectural renderings could have been made more in tune with the neighborhood.
On Monday, Curry said she didn’t know what the updated plans might look like.
“We’re still waiting for an indication to the neighbors, which I understand was going to be forthcoming,” Curry said. “At that meeting we were going to give our input.”
“We have not yet been to that meeting,” she said. “Do I want to go, and do the neighbors want to go? Absolutely.”
Thane Grauel grew up in Westport and has been a journalist in Fairfield County and beyond for 36 years. Reach him at editor@westportjournal.com. Learn more about us here.
As an architect and developer I support development, particularly the construction of both market rate and affordable housing, as our State is in such demand for new units, so please consider this constructive criticism; putting hip and sloped roofs on a 6 story building does not make it feel more “New Englandy”. Plus, those additional funds to construct those sloped roofs could be better utilized elsewhere inside the building.
~ Joseph Vallone, A.I.A.
Just remember everyone- the more of these ugly, “affordable”, high-density housing complexes there are, the lower all of our property values are going to be.
And don’t forget about an influx of The Poors! Ewwww. Gross. Have you seen those people? They don’t even know what a Birkin bag is!
But I’m sure you do Tom. You must be so proud of yourself, encouraging the uglification of Westport. If you like ugly why don’t you just move to an ugly low income town. We worked hard to get out of ugly and congested and move to Westport with, by the way, no assistance from any government, municipal entity. I encourage ” The Poors” as you condescendingly refer to disadvantaged people, to do it the old fashioned way….get educated, work hard and move up in the world, to Westport or wherever. I invite you to get here the way I did. Why this is such an affront to you Tom I can’t begin to imagine.
Where did you learn to ignore people who need a break? Vacation Bible School? A certain online university? Is there some Tucker tutorial you could point us to? You don’t need to invite me “to get here the way I did.” I’m already here. What a relief.
To clarify, the “you” refers to the disadvantaged yearning to be Westport residents without having to pay the going rate, not you Tom.
I happen to 100000% agree with Sharon.
Westport is a milestone. It is a goal. You do not get it for free.
Why are we diminishing that ?
The hamlet and other such projects personify the uglification of Westport. They truly do.
Basically if you own a home in Westport and are willing to add to your project 20% 8-30g then you can build anything. Anything your heart desires.
I can tomorrow turn my 4 bedroom home into 10 apartments.
People will start doing it.
Thank you Mary. It apparently will require some courage and willingness to speak truth to stupidity to turn things around. I do not believe the majority of our town wants these negative changes but the fear this loudmouth segment
of the population strikes in their hearts is real. I have been called every name in the book for daring to say that Westport is an aspirational town. If you can afford to live here, welcome, if not, try harder or be satisfied where you are.