Sponsored by KMS Partners

WESTPORT — As the pandemic seems to be — once again — receding into memory, Westport continues to attract a wide array of buyers searching for their next home. 

The tsunami of New York City-dwellers looking to relocate to Connecticut swamped the housing market earlier this year. As that moderates to a more orderly flow, the demand to live in Westport is still very strong, both for first-timers and Connecticut residents who already know Westport well.  Folks staying in Westport are moving laterally, trading up, or perhaps downsizing after raising their children here or nearby. 

Christine and Danny Power recently moved up from Brooklyn. Christine told us, “We’d wrestled with making the move from Brooklyn for years and finally chose Westport for the beach lifestyle. Since we arrived, we have been continually surprised by the town. The quality of the restaurants, the activities available to the kids, and the general beauty of the landscape. Most importantly, we’ve found so many other families from all over the world, just like us – scared to make the move from the city, but so delighted they actually did!” 

For a number of reasons, Westporters feel connected to the town, to the friends they have made and to the lifestyle they have led.  Westport offers a lot; Westport’s amenities are well-known and well-liked. And they are improving.

• Wakeman Town Farm — helping suburbanites experience our agrarian roots — has seen a high level of interest from residents craving a connection to local food production and sustainability. Cooking classes, farm camps, harvest dinners, and volunteer opportunities to work the land have been very popular with both adults and children.
• The Center for Senior Activities welcomes all with a packed weekly schedule that includes a full menu with classes such as Conversational French, Tai Chi or Intermediate Ukulele. And they also literally have a full menu — their daily café lunch is back. 
• Ice skating at the Longshore rink will begin in just a few days (November 26th, weather permitting). Fireworks will be back at Compo to celebrate the fourth in July 2022 (thank you, Westport PAL).   
• With more people working from home, there are more people in Westport during the day. That means more people are working off their pent-up energy with a visit to MoCA Westport, a walk through the trails at Earthplace, a stand-up-paddle in the Saugatuck or a swinging paddle match at Longshore. Instead of a stroll around a midtown block, Westporters are taking advantage of our terrific array of outdoor activities.
• For those commuters who still need to access the city, Metro North is shaving minutes off the commute, and the wait for a railroad station parking sticker has evaporated. What used to be years, is now only months. And Wheels 2 U offers door to door service to and from the train station during commuting hours.
• More folks are returning to the stores and shops that make Westport a unique shopping destination. The bounce-back has been remarkable. At last count, there were plans for roughly 30 new stores to open during the pre-holiday period, and there has been a renaissance downtown, on Main Street, and along the Post Road.  Specialty food shops, boutiques and well-known brand outposts have added some verve to the town’s retail scene.

Kit and Victor Loo kept their apartment on the Upper East Side, yet they realized they needed an escape hatch last year. They have truly fallen in love with their purchase in Old Hill.  Although still doing renovations and putting their mark on the house and property, they said “camping in the sunroom every weekend was an adventure!”  And their backyard pool was such a delight for their two children and their friends.

Recent converts from the Upper West Side, Justin and Ellen Mondshine, were happy to elaborate. Ellen told us, “What drew us to Westport?  I’d like to say we had a well-thought-out plan involving carefully considered pros and cons. The truth is – we just fell in love. That’s not entirely accurate.  With three young boys at home, the strength of the school district served as an important screen but, beyond that, it was “gut feel”. Everyone we met was warm and inviting, downtown is absolutely charming and the town amenities were more than we could have hoped for.  Sailing school?  Seriously? 

“Nearly half a year in we have not been disappointed (though we have yet to get around to sailing school).  The boys are having a great time at Kings Highway Elementary and absolutely love all of the extracurricular sports that keep them, and us, busy.  

“Our favorite times so far this year were the lazy weekend afternoons at Compo Beach with family and friends.  Now with winter around the corner we’ll need to update our playbook, but are confident there will be plenty to keep us occupied and engaged.”

(Note: KMS Partners has a business relationship with Westport Journal. KMS Partners at Compass Westport is an exclusive real estate partnership, serving Connecticut — Westport, Weston, Fairfield, Norwalk, Wilton and beyond. (203) 295-4375. www.kmspartners.com)