Affordable housing plan for Post Road met with concern

At 655 Post Road E., directly across from the luxury clothier Mitchells of Westport, rests a modest, 1,400-square-foot house on a fairly sizable plot of land. With most of the Post Road in Westport dedicated solely to businesses, the house stands out amidst the nearby restaurants, car dealerships and shopping plazas.

It looks just like any other house -- perhaps slightly rundown when compared to the others in Westport --

although not many houses built in 1902 are still standing for comparison.

Right now, nobody lives in the Linxweiler House, which was named after Joanna Linxweiler, who bequeathed the structure and 1.3 acres of land to the town after she died in 1981. However, some new tenants, threatened by homelessness, could be arriving soon if construction of new buildings on the land gets approved. Yet some say building on this land would be a violation of Linxweiler's last wishes.

Since 1984, the house has been operated by Homes with Hopes (previously known as Interfaith Housing Association) as transitional housing for men recovering from alcohol and drug addictions. In 2008, the program was discontinued, according to the nonprofit organization's Web site, due to the success of its clients, who no longer needed a half-way house.

Now, Homes with Hope envisions a new residential community that will provide a safety net for people at risk of being homeless as well as flexible housing options in an area where few other options exist. As such, the organization is seeking a 75-year lease with the town through the Planning and Zoning Commission (P&Z).

In addition, on Feb. 25, the P&Z will open a public hearing on a text amendment that would allow new residential buildings to be constructed next to the original house. A mix of 12 affordable one-

bedroom and two-bedroom apartments is planned as of now, according to the statement of need that accompanies the proposed text amendment. An approval of the amendment would pave the way for detailed plans to be submitted at a later date.

The amendment, which was submitted by Stamford land-use consultants Redniss & Mead, would also allow more than one supportive housing building per lot in seven other commercial zones throughout town.

According to Richard Redniss, a partner in the firm, there are several reasons for the housing, including the moral obligation to help others, the demand for such housing and Connecticut's affordable housing law, section 8-30g, which demands 10 percent of all housing in any municipality be deemed "affordable" for families making up to 80 percent of the state's median income.

Redniss recalled Westport Housing Authority meetings in 2008 during which several single mothers, recovering from a life of near-homelessness, spoke out against negative stereotypes.

"These are hard-working, dedicated parents who sacrifice for their children and they are the absolute salt of the earth that makes Westport and this country so fantastic, and those are the people who benefit from this," Redniss said.

If the 10 percent requirement is not met, then "hostile" developments can be built as long as some of the housing units are deemed affordable, according to Redniss. Such applications are difficult for the town to overturn since the law favors developers, he said. By creating the housing at 655 Post Road E., the town would be closer to receiving a temporary moratorium from developments that use affordable housing as a method for approval, he added.

The neighbors, most of whom live on the quiet Crescent Road located between the house and McDonald's, see the planned construction as a potential threat to the neighborhood's character and a blatant violation of the original intended use of the land, as stipulated in Linxweiler's will.

"It's not a question of, `Can they do this with the property?' It's a question of, `Should they do it with the property?'" said Jeffrey Staw, who just moved into a house on Crescent Road with his wife, Amy, over the summer.

He added, "Is it the right thing for the Crescent Road community? Is it the right thing to bring in ... other big buildings, which are larger than any other building on the block, that don't really represent the character of the Post Road, that don't really represent the character of Crescent Road? I question if what they're going to build is going to be appropriate."

Rob Marx, a partner of the architectural firm Roger Ferris + Partners LLC, which is working with Homes with Hope, declined comment on any construction plans. Homes with Hope also declined comment and deferred to Redniss.

When Linxweiler died in 1981, her will asked that the house and 1.3 acres be donated to the town with no legal restrictions on what the land could be used for. In the sixth item of her will, she said the "town of Westport has been good to me" and while she gave no legal restrictions on what the land should be used for, she stated her wishes for the land.

"I feel that there should be some green areas preserved along the Post Road rather than only commercial buildings," she wrote. "Without placing restrictions or a trust on this gift, it is my hope and desire that the property be used as a park or recreational area."

Staw has been talking to neighbors about what the text amendment could mean for the neighborhood, and he intends to speak at the P&Z meeting next week. He grew up in Westport and said that considerations have to be made for the future, especially considering how much the town has changed over the years.

"How do we know [Homes with Hope] can get enough money to oversee this property for 75 years? That's my concern," he said. "Everything might be fine and dandy for five years, but let's say we go through another economic downturn and their funding dries up. What's going to be there?"

Redniss said that if anything were to happen, then the Westport Housing Authority would take over.

Redniss with neighbors in early January. While he was hoping to discuss details on how the housing development could look best in the neighborhood, he was instead met with opposition about the intent of the will. Both Redniss and Assistant Town Attorney Gail Kelly said there are no legal restrictions on the will.

"Unfortunately, we have not continued any discussions," Redniss said. "We've left the door open and we've said ... whenever they want to sit down and have that conversation on details and other mitigative measures, we are more than happy to do so."