Historic District Commission Approves Wakeman Farm Renovations

The Westport Historic District Commission has approved replacing structural features on the house and barn on the Wakeman Farm historic property.

The decision was made Tuesday night at its regular meeting after discussing the appropriateness or the renovations with Peter Wormser, the architect overseeing the project.

Wormser provided drawings to the commissioners showing how his selections would appear incorporated into the buildings, and they gave unanimous approval to his choices for window sashes for the house, and cupolas, doors, window sashes and siding for the barn.

The longest discussion concerned the three cupolas that will go on the barn's roof  to provide ventilation, and whether they should only have louvers or louvers and windows.

Wormser said the windows would bring natural light into the barn but probably did not fit with its "agrarian nature." The commissioners agreed, selecting cupolas with louvers alone.

Each approved item resulted in the commission accepting a Certificate of Appropriateness application. An approved certificate indicates the commission has deemed an exterior change appropriate and/or sympathetic to the period and architectural style of the structure in question.

Reviewing the overall project, Wormser said the plan is to stabilize and restore the house and barn on the 2.2 acre property at 134 Cross Highway.

Wormser, who is donating his services to the project, said foundations for former green houses are also on the property and could be restored at a later time.

Joining Wormser at the meeting was Eileen Flug of the Representative Town Meeting and the Green Village Initiative, a non-profit organization that will be paying the town $1 a year on a seven-year lease to operate the property as a town farm to grow crops and teach residents about sustainable living.

The Initiative plans to restore the dilapidated house to livable condition and hire a farmer to reside in it.

The Wakeman family used the property as farmland from at least 1900 to 1970, when they sold it to the town.

Any changes to the house's exterior must be approved by the Historic District Commission because the property was designated a historic landmark in 2003.