Around the State: Westport

The town Historic District Commission (HDC) has completed restoration of a town-owned building to provide affordable housing for municipal employees and demonstrate good preservation practices.

The Emily McLaury house, located at 99 Myrtle Avenue, was purchased by the town of Westport in 1972 for the purpose of expanding the municipal parking lot behind it. Since that time, the town has rented the house. By 2005, however, increased appreciation for the house’s architectural character, along with the first selectman’s desire to provide affordable housing, especially for emergency responders, prompted the move to preserve the structure.

Charles E. Cutler, one of Westport’s most prominent architects, designed the modest dwelling in the early 1920s for his wife’s cousin, Emily McLaury. Executed in the Colonial Revival style the house retains nearly all of its important original features. It was designated as a Local Historic Landmark in 2005 and is also listed in the State Register of Historic Places. Cutler’s daughter served on the restoration committee. She provided historic photos that allowed recreation of missing elements such as the porch benches.

Funding for the $268,000 restoration has come from the town funds, and HDC chair Morley Boyd reported in November that the project was expected to come in just under budget.

 “From a historic district commission standpoint it’s really been a boon,” says Boyd. “It’s in a very high visibility location, with a big sign saying ‘Restoration in progress.’” In addition to providing needed housing, the project has helped the HDC demonstrate the benefits of preservation to developers, builders and the public. Boyd says that it has inspired some local builders to reconsider reusing rather than demolishing historic houses—a near-miraculous result in a town where a local affairs website features the “Teardown of the Day.”