Westport News:
WESTPORT — Two vestiges of 1950s-era Westport — the Golden Shadows mansion on the Baron’s South property and former Nike missile radar site — are one step closer to winning official designation as historic landmarks.
The Historic District Commission unanimously accepted draft study reports on the properties’ historical credentials at Thursday’s meeting.
The former Nike missile base is a Cold War-era installation where Bedford Middle School now sits on North Avenue. Close by is an accompanying radar facility at 180 Bayberry Lane, where the Rolnick Observatory and the Westport Weston Health District offices have re-purposed part of the former defense site.
Golden Shadows, standing on part of Baron’s South between South Compo Road and Imperial Avenue, formerly was owned by perfume magnate Baron Langer von Langerdorff, includes a two-story brick mansion, a guest house and a garage/carriage house.
Selectman Helen Garten, who led the Golden Shadows/Nike Missile Radar Site Study Subcommittee, said in her presentation to the commission that her group voted unanimously to include both the Golden Shadows guest house and the carriage house in the historic designation because its members saw “independent significance in this Tudor structure” and because “celebrating the Baron’s vision” comes with including all the buildings.
First Selectman Jim Marpe expressed support for designating the mansion and the area immediately surrounding it as a historic property, but asked the HDC to postpone its vote or reconsider the boundaries to exclude the additional buildings from historic designation.
“I believe 70 (guest house) and 72 (carriage house) are interesting buildings, but we haven’t determined exactly what we would like to do with those and I would like to have the continued flexibility that comes with that,” Marpe said.
“The cost of maintaining a historically accurate building, I think, is one that particularly as a town property puts a burden on taxpayers,” he added.
Don Bergmann, a member of the subcommittee, said he initially agreed with Marpe about setting parameters for the Golden Shadows designation, but after learning more from the HDC and the Representative Town Meeting, came to the conclusion the buildings are “together” as “one complex.”
Marpe’s comments debated
Marpe, however, was criticized for expressing his opinion on setting boundaries on the historic designation before the HDC had a chance to vote on the matter.
“Jim, unfortunately, with all due respect, it appears that you are out of order tonight and that you’re usurping authority that you don’t have to come before this body at this time and to express your objections to the boundary issue,” said John Suggs, RTM District 5.
