Shakespeare Theater Repairs OK'd by Town Council

Today's Connecticut Post reported: "The Town Council on Monday approved a proposal 8-2 that allows the town to enter into a 'licensing agreement' with Rhode Island theater producer Bill Hanney, the latest operator chosen to try and renovate and reopen the theater, that permits the developer to put up between $200,000 and $250,000 of his own money to replace and repair the roof, make other repairs and paint the 50-year-old building."

Hanney has until January 15th to make the repairs.

To read the full article, go to http://www.connpost.com/ci_10594421?IADID=Search-www.connpost.com-www.connpost.com

New York Times: Stratford is "Beachy, With a Link to Olde England"

This week's NY Times Real Estate section included a profile on Stratford. Our very own neighborhood was described in this paragraph: "Stratford Center, the town’s oldest section, has large, well-kept Italianates, Second Empire style homes and saltboxes along Main, Elm and West Broad Streets. Many are no longer residences, but instead house law firms, funeral homes, counseling centers and the like."

Click here to read the full article: http://www.nytimes.com/2008/09/28/realestate/28livi.html?_r=1&ei=5070&emc=eta1&oref=slogin

Hollywood Least

Okay, I just want to make sure we have this straight: The town wants to sell the former Army Engine Plant to Hector Natera, who is supposed to close on the property Oct. 14 for the low, low, low price of $10 million. At the same time, Natera and his attorney claim the "developer" doesn't have the dough to pay the $313,961 he owes his ex-wife, one Christine Bonito. The town says Natera is going to turn the Army Engine Plant into a film and multi-media production studio -- Hollywood East! On the other hand, the ex-wife says Natera is "a shady businessman who hides assets in numerous limited-liability companies and pretends not to have cash while driving a Mercedes."

Idea -- why not give him the Shakespeare Theater, too?! Click and enjoy: www.connpost.com/localnews/ci_10594608

From Hartford with Love

Widespread pandemonium may ensue, but probably won't, when that other Republican lady governor, Jodi Rell, visits the Albania of Fairfield County Wednesday to celebrate a really important natal anniversary — namely, the Merritt Parkway turning the big seven-oh (which means it has only eight year on the guv herself). Rell will be at the glamorous DOT maintenance facility on Ryders Lane at 4:30 for the festivities. Can't hardly wait!

Fun Run for the Tommy Fund 9/28

Our friend and neighbor Quinn Rooney and Family are sponsoring a team for a 5K family fun run/walk in New Haven this Sunday the 28th. The more, the merrier, and it benefits The Tommy Fund, an organization that supports children and families with cancer.

Here is the link to the brochure. My son David has gotten almost 20 kids from school to come; hope we can show neighborhood support too - and it's fun!!!

http://www.tommyfund.org/Portals/0/pdfs/Brochure%202008.pdf

-- Ann Jackson

The Choices: Larry, Curly, Moe

Beleaguered flyway Sikorsky Airport, which is owned by the city of Bridgeport but is situated in the town of Stratford (and exactly which brainiac dreamed up THAT scenario?) is on the auction block -- MAYBE! And according to today's ConnPost, the ownership choices boil down to an unHoly Trinity. Guess who? Just click through: http://www.connpost.com/ci_10503171

Locomotive Breath

One of the neighborhood’s, and the town’s, most significant infrastructure challenges is the lack of a parking facility for the railroad station, which leaves surrounding streets choked with parked cars — many not from Stratford — every weekday. It’s both a public-safety and quality-of-life issue that affects many OSNA members.

In response State Sen. Dan Debicella (R-21) and State Rep. John Harkins (R-120) have organized a public meeting this evening, 6:30 p.m. in the Lovell Room of the Stratford Public Library. Also attending will be a representative of the state’s Department of Transportation, which will discuss work ConnDOT is currently doing at the station.

Here’s the link to today's Stratford Star story: http://www.acorn-online.com/joomla15/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=8777:meeting-thursday-to-focus-on-train-station&catid=186:local-news&Itemid=517

To avoid paying to park in the surface lot at the railroad station, Metro North commuters clog surrounding streets including Linden Avenue (pictured).

I Want My OSNA TV!

Extending an unbroken line that dates back to Benjamin Franklin (Poor Richard’s Almanac) and continues through Edward R. Murrow, Walter Cronkite and Jon Stewart, OSNA TV goes live this weekend (weather and babies permitting) with anchorwoman extraordinaire Amanda Loban asking penetrating questions about weighty issues such as the future of the Shakespeare Theater, conjugal relations between the mayor and the Town Council and Sarah Palin’s shoes. A not-to-be-missed media moment!

Good Shepherd Discovers Stratford

Hollywood star Cybill Shepherd was in town yesterday to film a scene from the upcoming Wishing Well Pictures production Listen to Your Heart, slated for late 2009 release. The blonde comedienne, who burst onto the screen in the 1971 Peter Bogdanovich film The Last Picture Show and starred with Bruce Willis in the 1980s TV comedy Moonlighting, even got to meet a real celebrity while here in the Town for All Seasons — Hizzoner, Mayor James R. Miron.

Read all about it here: http://www.connpost.com/localnews/ci_10473560

Perry House Ball: Autumn at Gatsby's

The Perry House Foundation, Inc. invites members and friends of OSNA to experience the “Jazz Age” with the return of the Harvest Community Ball on Saturday, October 18, 2008 at the Baldwin Center at 7:30 P.M.

Autumn at Gatsby’s guests will enjoy the music of the 1920’s with the return of Anthony Radice and Street Life. Anthony has added more brass and has a great sense of the music of the Roaring Twenties. Our fabulous caterer, Food For All Reasons of NOLA fame, will provide delicious hors d’oeuvres and entrees. We’ll forget about the Prohibition Era with an open bar and an on site “Speakeasy”. With an eye to the parties described in F.Scott Fitzgerald’s The Great Gatsby, Joyce Baran and her team are hard at work with plans for transformation of the Baldwin Center. David Smith of Cablevision and WICC will serve as Master of Ceremonies. Shop till you drop at Sue Rooney and her committee’s Silent and Live Auction and forget about calories at the dessert bar provided by an award winning chef.

Cost is $100. per person and dress is Black Tie, Optional. Flapper dresses and 1920’s attire (including spats) are also welcome.

Anthony Radice and Joyce Baran will discuss music of the jazz age and the Autumn at Gatsby’s event on David Smith’s Exchange program on WICC on September 23, at 2:00 P.M

For more information please call Faye Gerarden at 378-2254 or the Perry House at 377-3779.

Stratford Woman To Challenge Debicella

A certain "community organizer" has been making headlines on the national political stage. But here at home another one is making waves as well. Democrat Janice Andersen of Stratford, 53, announced she would challenge incumbent State Sen. Dan Debicella (R-21), whose district includes Shelton, Monroe and Seymour in addition to Stratford.Andersen is deputy director of a Bridgeport-based non-profit known as RYASAP, which focuses on helping local youths and making communities safer. Sounds like "community organizer" to us. But at least Debicella's no lipsticked pit bull!

Real all about it here: http://www.zwire.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=20108347&BRD=1637&PAG=461&dept_id=9180&rfi=6

Eyesore

More on Hard's Corner from the CT Post

BRIDGEPORT -- After 18 years at Hard's Corner, Ken Petrino locked the doors for good on Aug. 31 at the last directly owned Mobil gasoline station in Stratford.

His landlord, Exxon Mobil Corp., the world's largest oil company, wouldn't renew the lease.
Petrino said he made an offer to buy the station, but he and the company couldn't come to terms, so now the building at the corner of Main Street and Stratford Avenue is boarded up, which has angered some people in the neighborhood.

"It doesn't look good for us," said John Baggeas, owner of the Duchess Diner. "It looks like we're closing."

Baggeas said he's concerned that, in a tough economic climate, people see a boarded-up building and think the neighborhood is going downhill. Still, he had a lot of business for lunch Wednesday and couldn't spend a lot of time talking about his concerns before orders from the kitchen called him away. Another worker called the situation sad.

Beth Snyder, an Exxon spokeswoman, said the strategy is to not close the stations, but to sell them to distributors who will continue to operate them as Mobil or Exxon stations.

For more on this article, visit: http://www.connpost.com/ci_10431266

To read other Stratford news from national newspapers, see our "News for Neighbors" newsfeed in the right column.

Stars to Shine in Stratford

When the former Ciao restaurant recently folded, it left a new void in the storefronts of Stratford Center. Searching for a new tenant, the building owner enlisted the aid of Alden Joy, manager at Goody Bassett’s Ice Cream, to assist her in the quest. His efforts of listing the property with a description and photos quickly caught the eyes of an independent film company. Subsequent meetings and discussions ended up with a contract on the property to film portions of a new movie starring Cybil Shepard, Shirley Knight, Ernie Sabella and more. Filming starts on September 10th and runs to the 15th. It’s Stratford’s time to shine!

Take this opportunity to visit the local merchants and just look like you’re enjoying the day. Who knows, you may be cast as an extra or get a glimpse of a movie star!

About the movie, "Listen to Your Heart": Danny, a struggling New York City singer/songwriter, falls in love with a deaf girl that can't hear the music she inspires him to write. This is a story of how one man's life, through his music, touches not only her life, but the lives of many, for generations to come.

To read more about the upcoming film, go to: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1274296

PS: When the filming is over, watch for the new restaurant to open in the fall. The new owners look promising, and we can expect to see a well-done Italian-style family destination.

"Havoc at Council Meeting Over Shakespeare Theater"

STRATFORD -- Bill Hanney, the latest theater operator and producer chosen by the Town Council to try to renovate and reopen the long-shuttered Shakespeare theater, said he's never experienced more of a spectacle, even during a dramatic performance at his Rhode Island "Theater By The Sea" -- than during Monday night's council meeting at Town Hall.

After Hanney made an offer to the Town Council to temporarily pay about $150,000 for a new roof and paint job as part of a plan to reopen the once prestigious Elm Street showcase by next spring, Mayor James R. Miron and Councilman Gavin Forrester, D-3, became embroiled in a shouting and shoving match as other council members and Town Attorney Richard Buturla also heatedly debated the merits of Hanney's plan.

Click here to read more of the CT Post article: http://www.connpost.com/localnews/ci_10414914

The Vinyl Solution: Ann's POV

As some of you may remember, OSNA was brought back to life over a decade ago as way to reach neighbors to promote the expansion of the Historic District to it's present size. At that time I had sent out written information, as well as set up informational sessions with guest speakers from the HDC to explain rules and regulations in more detail. I was overwhelmed by the interest in preservation, and encouraged by some "old timers" to resurrect the once active and vibrant OSNA.

When that expansion took place, our efforts had established a regulatory power to prevent the insidious deterioration of the Historic character and wholeness of our neighborhood. Yes, it is true that we started protecting our "jewel" of a neighborhood late in life, after much damage had been done, but the historic fabric and character that this neighborhood maintains, to this day, outshines many a lower Fairfield County, or Eastern CT shoreline neighborhood.

To this end, I would have remained steadfast in the refusal to allow construction in ANY capacity (new, old, remodel) to set a precedent that could jeopardize any of our over 100 historically protected buildings - of which ALL are applicable - not just the "old" ones Remember, it is not only the structures individually that a HDC commits to protect, but the character of the neighborhood as a whole.

How many years is it reasonable to think that the HDC can remain unchallenged legally now from approving application for vinyl siding? How many years for new construction? How many years for any construction? And how much will those challenges (if the HDC does not capitulate) cost the taxpayers?

I believe that the guidelines from the Secretary of the Interior regarding the appropriateness of siding types are very clear in this case. And when appointed, our Historic District Commissioners take on the duty and obligation to maintain those standards. Please note carefully - we live in a federally designated and recognized district. This is not about house hugging or zealotry. Vinyl siding may indeed by an industry standard in New England, but NOT in a historic district.

I fear this was a definitive step backwards in the message we send to our town leaders, our residents and frankly, local developers about our level of the unwavering commitment we have for our Historic District.

-- Ann Lindsay Jackson

The Other View: The Vinyl Solution

A certain precedent was addressed Thursday evening in the Historic District meeting with regards to Francis Carol Place, the new street just off Judson Place behind the Knights of Columbus building. I say this ‘precedent’ was “addressed”, not “set”, because as was one of the Commissioners to approve the siding issue for a new development of houses (up to 5 in total) to be built on that property, we commissioners yet again, addressed previous HDC approvals as well as some new information in order to come to a decision.

The big discussion for many months now has been whether the issue of vinyl siding on these new structures is appropriate for their appearance in the Historic District. After months of deliberation, I and two other Commissioners voted yes for this project, while Michael Bingham was the nay vote. Kudos to Michael for standing for what he believes is correct. I believe differently in this instance.

As a Commission, we are given the responsibility to oversee the appropriateness of building projects from simple repairs to full out replacements and new construction within the District boundaries. As charged to us by our enabling legislation, the Commission shall consider: “…texture and material of the architectural style and pertinent features of other buildings and structures in the immediate neighborhood.”

1) 2 of the 3 newest homes build in our neighborhood (considered as full new construction) are sided with vinyl: 2288 Elm Street, built in 1997- clapboard; 125 Ferry Boulevard, built 1994- vinyl; 823 Broad Street, built 1981- vinyl.

2) According to our Chairman Tom Yemm, there is a distinct percentage of homes in the immediate area of Francis Carol Place that are vinyl sided for a variety of reasons. Therefore, another deciding point: this is not a significant change to the “style and pertinent features of other buildings” in the immediate neighborhood, regardless of how it affects the density of the type of siding in the immediate area. Should we not allow another wood-clapboard house because there are 8 in a row?

3) According to the US Census Bureau, 2007 report, 80% to 85% of the new construction in the Northeast uses vinyl siding. I was unable to find ANY statistics on the siding for new homes in Historic Districts.

4) In a publication from the National Parks Service, Technical Preservation Services, “Aluminum and Vinyl Siding on Historic Buildings”, John H. Meyers writes: “An historic building is a product of the cultural heritage of its region, the technology of its period, the skill of the builder and the materials used for its construction”. If the trend were simply for wood siding, would we see a stucco house at all in the District? If the trend were simply for stucco, would we see a brick building such as Sterling House in the district? If historically we only used thatch for roofs, would we have begun to use cedar shakes? If cedar shakes, then why slate? If slate, then why asphalt shingles. And so on. My point is these homes are being built in 2008- 2009 and the trend is for vinyl on new construction.

The Historic District Commission has been grappling with the issue of vinyl siding for many years now. My research shows this was not an incorrect decision on this project. Each and every home has its distinct character of the era, as well as the building materials available at the time it was built. INCLUDING the last 3 houses built in the district. That was also a factor in my decision, and one that I could not dispute.

I do not favor vinyl siding. I am thoroughly against it in remodeling work. I have personal experience with vinyl siding as a person in the building industry, and I have promoted the drawbacks of using vinyl for residing houses. For me, there will always be a drive to protect the neighborhood, and I still do. I am fully aware of the additional cost of owning an historic home. However, new construction is and has been different. It is a decision that has had many factors for me, and I know the future ramifications all too well.

This is “New” construction, not remodeling. For those of you who may think I personally have destroyed the Historic District and promoted the “Vinylization of the District”, I assure you, you’re wrong. Vinyl siding and windows, as a remodeling tool, are not acceptable to me, and I will continue to educate on the negatives of these items to those people who apply to the Commission for permission to use them.

To summarize: a decision was made, based on the facts available to us as commissioners. It will not change how we look at future remodeling projects that come before the Commission, but it will allow vinyl siding on these new houses in the neighborhood. This is not something I’m happy with, but it was the correct decision in this case.

-- Paul Joy

Big Box Score

For months I have been trying to get the Historic District Commission or any other arm of town government to act on the in-the-dead-of-night installation by AT&T of its giant, intrusive video ready access device (VRAD) cabinets – those giant boxes such as the one behind St. James right in front of the cemetery. My argument was that the boxes are so large (about five feet tall and four feet wide) that they are in fact structures, and ought not to be allowed in an historic district without a certificate of appropriateness from the HDC.

Well, it seems we have friends in Hartford we didn’t even know we had. On Friday, the state’s Department of Public Utility Control (DPUC) issued a draft decision that the siting of the VRAD boxes in public rights-of-way and on private land requires the “prior notice and consent” of adjoining property owners and the host municipality PRIOR TO installation. Not sure if boxes already installed can remain in place, but in the meantime you can read the DPUC decision here: http://www.dpuc.state.ct.us/DPUCinfo.nsf/6388afa2e804605f852565f7004e9e87/1bf42f7e0ae15184852574bb0047dac8?OpenDocument

-- Michael Bingham

The Vinyl Solution

Our neighborhood lost an important battle Thursday night, and it’s one you all should know about. The Historic District Commission (of which I am a member) approved by a 3-1 vote (I was the sole dissenter) a proposal by developer Ed Mackowski to build five new vinyl-sided houses in the subdivision on the newly named Frances Carol Place (off Judson Place, behind the Knights of Columbus). I think Mackowski is fundamentally a decent guy, and from the drawings we saw the homes will not be unattractive — your basic two-story “Colonials.” But I didn’t believe, and still don’t, that vinyl-clad houses are appropriate to one of the most distinguished historic districts in all of Connecticut.

This is really an elemental issue. The very existence of a historic district is controversial in our neighborhood, on a couple of levels. The benefit of historic preservation — that it buoys property values of the entire neighborhood — is an abstraction not grasped by all, and beyond that people don’t like to be told what they can and cannot do to their homes.The most common issue the HDC grapples with is windows, and every month at least one property-owner comes to us for permission to replace his/her old, draughty, inefficient wooden windows with new, much more efficient and above all CHEAPER vinyl windows. It is our job to say no. So we do, and then they hate us. Personally.

One of the things we HDC commissioners are reluctant to tell our neighbors, but maybe we shouldn’t be, is this: In terms of repairs and upkeep, it costs more to live in an historic district. There — I said it. In communities with really successful historic districts that enjoy broad public support — say, Westport or Litchfield — no one questions this fundamental truth: To maintain the historic character of an historic home is expensive. Like, duh. But wait, some people say — Stratford is not Litchfield or Westport. That’s true. But Stratford is changing, and that change isn’t directionless. Our neighborhood is home to many more white-collar, professional families than a generation ago, and demography drives change. Beyond that, what communities would we prefer to model on? Westport or West Haven? (Sorry West Haven!)

That was my argument, but three other HDC commissioners — Pat Pistey, of Pistey Funeral Home fame, Ann Miron, of mother-of-the-mayor fame, and fellow OSNA officer Paul Joy — were not persuaded. Paul pointed out that 80 percent of new houses built in the Northeast these days are vinyl-clad (but not in historic districts, Paul!). To my observation that the neighborhood would be better served if, instead of building five vinyl homes selling for about $300,000, Mackowski should build three beautiful, wooden homes and sell them for $500,000, Ann Miron said, “No one is going to pay $500,000 for a house behind the Knights of Columbus.”
But Ann — half our neighborhood is “behind the Knights of Columbus”!

So I lost the argument, and in my opinion we let you guys down. I urged Paul Joy to post arguing the majority view here on this site (which is the whole reason we started this), and I hope he does. But in any event it would be really valuable to hear our neighbors’ views on this issue. By all means, please e-mail us at StratfordNeighbors@gmail.com and tell us what you think!

-- Michael Bingham

Interstate Man of Mystery

Who is this mystery man, producer Bill Hanney, to whom your Town Council has apparently entrusted the fortunes of our beloved, falling-down Shakespeare Theater? On the plus side, he’s already earned his bones, sort of, as a jump-starter of shuttered theaters — his Theatre by the Sea in Matunuck, R.I. had been closed for nearly four years before he took the reins on June 26, 2007 and breathed new life into the 300-seat facility. On the minus side, he says he’s never seen a Shakespearean drama or comedy on stage, and he’s convinced a steady diet of productions of the Bard is commercial suicide. Want to find out more about Bill and the Theatre by the Sea? Visit www.theatrebythesea.com.

Too Hard a Corner?

When Ken Petrino opened Hards Corner Mobil in 1990, gas was less than $1 a gallon. It was $3.89 when he closed his doors for good on September 1, leaving an ugly, boarded-up gash in the middle of the neighborhood. We’re not sure what factors contributed to the closing — certainly Exxon Mobil isn’t exactly hurting financially — but the fact that he never invested in credit card-accepting pumps couldn’t have helped (so customers had to go into the store twice to buy gas with a credit card). Ken and partner Mike are moving the repair-shop part of the business, at least, to Airway Motors, 1504 Barnum Ave. (377-6370), next to Frankie’s Diner.

We have a sense that other Hards Corner businesses are doing okay, at least on the southwest (Pickle Barrel) and southeast (Jerry’s, Gaetano's) corners. We should all be interested in the future of the property, and we’ll try to find out who the real-estate agent is. Certainly OSNA members would be interested in bringing public pressure to bear to make sure to property doesn’t become, say, “Cosmo’s Adult Boutique.” Keep Hards Corner family- and kid-friendly!

Historic Homes Redux

Last December, Sterling House Community Center organized a one-day historic house tour featuring some of our neighborhood’s gems, including the well-known Koreen LaBrecque residence/law office on Main Street (you know, the yellow one), the Curtis homestead and, of course, Stratford’s oldest surviving home, the Perry House. The event was such a success that Sterling House has decided to do an encore, planned for Sunday, December 7. To learn more about the event, now in the “active planning” stage, call Judy Pitz at 378-2606.

History of OSNA

The Old Stratford neighborhood Association, OSNA, was founded in 1979 by Guy Hatfield and residents of the 2nd and 3rd districts concerned with preserving the quality of life in the community. Initially the group focussed on protecting the Shakespeare Theatre site from inappropriate development and ensuring the formation of a federally-recognized Historic District.

Twenty-five years later OSNA remains an important community resource. OSNA is a not-for-profit organization dedicated to preserving a sense of community by sponsoring group activities and providing members with the information, tools and administrative support necessary to address important local issues.

Although most of our members are residents of the Historic District, membership is open to any Stratford resident interested in improving the community. We actively reach out to and communicate with other neighborhood organizations, gathering information on topics that may be of interest to our membership.