Developer David Waldman, new owner of the historical old Westport YMCA building in Connecticut, finally did it. He managed in an instant to destroy whatever good local residents thought he might be doing in the downtown shopping district. An offense so egregious, it's reminiscent of the destruction of Gorham Island in the 80s.
Even though Mr Waldman promised us he would do whatever he could to preserve the beautiful ivy crawling the sides of the building, a vision of wonder every spring, summer and fall, for decades... He went ahead and pulled it all down anyway, making him out to be a liar, probably worse in the hearts and minds of all long time residents in our community.
So sad. So unnecessary. The destruction of the last vestige of Westport's cultural heritage, the annihilation of our beloved picture postcard ivy, an image used for generations to represent Westport to visitors and tourists, this senseless act shows complete lack of design, architectural and planning acumen.
It's as much a failure of the Westport Historical Society, the Westport Town Hall and the Westport Downtown Merchants Association, probably in cahoot with each other, allowing such a blatant disregard for Main Street, in a bargain basement effort to make everything safe for shopping. It's with grave chagrin that I post these sickening photographs.
Even the workers, when I expressed my dismay, acknowledged knowingly taking part in such an ungodly act. Thanks Mr. Waldman for imposing your narrow minded perception of stripped down aesthetic on our once charming New England community. I'm being kind and polite. This deserves expletives!
Now the corner of Main Street and the Post Road will look like communist East Berlin... May just as well tear the entire building down if you're not going to preserve its character, build something fresh and current, a great green building. This is half ass, doesn't please anyone. It's redevelopment by compromise. It can only yield mediocrity.
The cutting down of the ivy was approved by the Zoning Board of Appeals, the Conservation Commission, the Architectural Review Board, the Flood and Erosion Control Board and the Historic District Commission. Centerbrook Architects is handling the landscaping design. Engineering and Environmental Services are provided by Langan Engineering and Environmental Services.
The amazing thing is that if Walkman had waited a couple more weeks to do his dirty deed, nobody would have noticed. The leaves would have fallen to the ground. He chose to cut it down at its most beautiful, just as the leaves were turning red...
Wow! Westport's "last vestige of cultural heritage"! Dig a little deeper beyond the superficial, Remy: The beautiful building is still there, cleaned up and with money lavished upon it so that it may be used and admired for generations to come. Your hyperbolic comparison to East Berlin is rich. Has a "criminal act" really been perpetrated? I suggest a citizen' arrest! Better yet, start a campaign to seize the building from Mr. Waldman through eminent domain so that the People can restore the place the right way. I do admire your outrage and your "grave chagrin", but I hope you can chill a little; take a breath...tomorrow's a new day, and you can plant some ivy at your place.
ReplyDeleteComing from someone who works at Wal-Mart in Africa... Is your family the contractor? Are you a member of the Kowalski Brothers family? What do you care? Matter of pride? Standing up for a relative's ill advised decision?
ReplyDeleteI had no idea where you work; thanks for the update. No, the Kowalsky Brothers spell their name differently: No relation and no conflict of interests. I just couldn't resist responding to your sanctimonious outrage over a building clean-up project. It makes me wonder just what levels of apoplexy you may reach when regarding really important issues. I hope your teacher gives you an A on your blogging project. It's really good.
ReplyDeleteWhy would he do that? It really looked beautiful with the ivy.
ReplyDeleteThe ivy can be a moisture trap, which accelerates damage to wood, stucco and masonry joints, and this building is about a hundred years old. Even Harvard and Princeton (the vaunted "Ivy Leagues") strip it down from time to time for restoration and preservation of their historic buildings. With the ivy removed, the building's exterior can be inspected more thoroughly and restoration work completed if necessary. The Ivy can grow back pretty fast if they decide they want it back (this is why I found our blogger's outrage so unfounded and overblown). In the long run, it was probably a practical move by an owner who is protecting his investment, and it helps to ensure that we can all enjoy this true Westport landmark for a long, long time to come. You have to admit, the building is pretty sharp looking even without the vines!
ReplyDeleteYou might want to get your facts straight Calvin...
Deletehttp://www.nytimes.com/2012/02/26/realestate/greenwich-village-streetscapes-ivy-reviled-admired-and-lately-imitated.html?_r=0
Thanks for that NYTimes story...
DeleteThe ivy was not cut back to grow back. They took a chainsaw to it down to the roots. My teacher? Blogging project? How old are you, 12?
ReplyDeleteExactly which fact have I not got straight? So what are the facts? The article cited offers no definitive opinion or verdict, only balanced reportage...It in fact ends with the words, "professionals in the building field may disagree...". Here are facts: 1) The Y building is quite old now and needs to be maintained. 2) Its owner has made an investment in the building and in downtown Westport. 3) The owner would like to get a return on investment, and can be expected to do what he sees as best to preserve and utilize his property. 4) There is NO indication that Mr. Waldman does not respect or wish to preserve Westport's heritage, and there is no evidence that he is incompetent at his business (which is a net plus for downtown), or that he had the the ivy cut down as a personal effrontery upon the citezenry or to spite Remy C himself (although in the latter case, it would be a tempting thought). So, relax. The beautiful old Y is in good hands and is being preserved. If it looks too naked now, then start a petition to bring back the ivy -- it can GROW BACK...THAT is the FACT! The town and its assets are not static! Time goes by and things must change a little sometimes in order to be perpetuated, and this is best be done with respect for both preservation and growth (in population and in prosperity).
ReplyDeleteThe dilapidated house on Gorham Island (yes I remember it very well) would have fallen in on itself -- because it was beyond practical repair. Don't get so mad that our beloved old Y is under careful stewardship and care, with enough money to back the plan. So maybe it's not the perfect scenario of your halcyon daydreams of yore -- In realistic terms, the Y building is in good hands. Be happy about it, or do something about it besides your histrionic and exaggerated moaning.
To claim that a "criminal act" has been perpetrated is not only extremely silly sounding, it is potentially libelous. To wildly state that the old Y building is "Westport's last vestige of cultural heritage" is simply laughable and makes me wonder what the community really means to you, Remy. And to compare downtown Westport to East Berlin is not only really obtuse (even within the realm of your ham-fisted sarcasm), but trivializes the plight of people who lived there during the dark oppressed years. The really funny part about it, Remy, is that when the Berlin wall came down, the evidence was there for all the world to see about what happens when old buildings are not kept up and where economic progress stops...That's not the Westport anyone would want, but it's what we would get with your philosophy.
So, which facts have I not gotten right?
I repeat, because you're thick. The ivy was not cut back, it was cut down! To the roots, stumps two inches wide, never to grow back. So, you must be a close friend of Mr. Waldman. Did he hire you to waste my time, so you can hone your ridiculously hollow debating skills?
ReplyDeleteI'll remind you, because you're myopic: IT CAN BE REPLANTED QUITE EASILY! It's a renewable resource! See, Remy, they make these things called seeds. If it's an asset to the town, I'd suggest you contact Mr. Waldman, with enough community support to back you up that he feels compelled to bring the greenery back. Isn't that more productive that to bloviate that one "may as well tear the entire building down"? (Your words, friend! Think about how "ridiculously hollow" that is). And no, I do not know Mr Waldman, don't work for his firm, never met him at a party or even crossed paths with him at the grocery store to my knowledge. I am neither pro- nor anti-Waldman. I am neither pro-nor anti-ivy. I just couldn't quite grasp your level of outsized indignance, your self-righteous entitlement to pontificate and to pass irrational judgement on this issue and the people involved. It makes me wonder how you act when they cancel your favorite cartoon or if you run out of Cap'n Crunch. Did you say debate? Remy, to debate you have to have a substantive argument to promote and defend -- You do not have that.
DeleteYou're such a troll... I mean, do you hear yourself? Seeds? I guess that's what you told Reagan when he said you've seen one redwood, you've seen them all.
ReplyDeleteYou're right, Remy. How hopeless to think that new things can grow from ideas, intentions and efforts, or indeed from the earth itself...Might as well just tear the building down now, just like you said. What a great solution that would be for you: Then you could continue to wallow happily in your insolence and disgust, and forever more bemoan the loss of Westport's Last Vestige of Cultural Heritage, instead of trying to see anything positive in something that is already done, or try and effect a change in a condition that is not permanant.
ReplyDeleteWait a minute...I finally get it! You're doing "mockumentary", right?! Up until right now, I thought you were for real! Good one, Remy! You got me good for a while, but no one but a fictional character could possibly be so melodramatically negative as are you (or, I guess I mean your 'character' role). Good luck to you, friend. Have a beautiful day.
I was being factitious about tearing the building down, you dooffus... Man are you ever crystallized on me. You're in love or something? You finally get it, wow! Took you long enough... Thanks for bringing commentary activity to my blog. Much obliged.
ReplyDeleteI am with Calvin (and Mr. Waldman) on this one. If I were the owner, I would do what's necessary to protect my investment. Anything growing near or on the structure is bad. I know ivy looks nice, but I wouldn't keep it just because people like how it looks.
ReplyDeleteTry reading the NYT's link i shared, then amend your 3rd sentence. It's a shame that you and your pompous ass buddy, Calvin are so eager to be "right", that you stain this blog with hate...enough of your loser/negative nelly, piss poor attitude...go somewhere else...
ReplyDelete