New Haven Register (Sunday) (New Haven, CT)
CT town weighs $1M in repairs for crumbling mansion
WESTPORT — An unoccupied brick mansion adorned in light pink columns and trim sits at the end of a winding driveway. Vacant for decades, the house was once the home of Baron Walter Langeer von Langendorff, a perfumer.
It is believed he immigrated to the U.S. during World War II and founded Evyan perfumes with his wife, Evelyn Diane Westall. One of their popular fragrances was Golden Shadows, which was also the official name of their house.
Now, the colloquial name of “Baron’s South” or the “Baron’s mansion” is used by Westporters. The once fabulous estate has sat, untouched for years. He died in 1983, and the town eventually took over the property about 23 years ago. Though the estate features 22 acres with walking trails and picnic tables, the mansion itself is not open to the public.
Golden Shadows is deteriorating, according to a June draft report from the Maintenance Study Committee, and now the town is left with deciding what it should do with the mansion. The two-story building is currently used by the town for light storage of first aid and critical response items. It was previously used for book storage by the Westport Public Library.
“With cost of construction today a simple residential renovation would be over $1M ... plus design documentation fees,” the report states.
The structure should be considered for exterior improvements almost immediately, followed by ceiling and floor work, according to the report. Other proposed improvements to the site include a new driveway, trimmed grass and bushes and removing a dead pine tree.
The exterior brickwork has minor cracking with some patio stones out of place, though some major cracks in the facade are getting larger since the building’s 2018 report. The brick and stone window heads at every window top need to be replaced, as there is deterioration and cracking.
Some of the front steps are out of place, the patio is leaking and caulking is peeling and falling off. The patio and walls are deteriorating at an accelerated rate due to a lack of ongoing maintenance.
There are also some issues inside.
Most of the upstairs rooms have some signs of water intrusion. Some windowsills are rotting. Ceiling paint is peeling. The staircase has joints opening and some the wood floors are deteriorating, according to the report.
“Many aspects of this property should be considered by the Town administration in this committee’s opinion,” the report states. “We hope to share this report with the firm hired to perform the Masterplan for Barons South when that occurs.”
The plan for Baron’s South is expected to be proposed in 2023 as part of the town’s Parks Master Plan being created using money from the American Rescue Plan Act.
John Klinge, a District 9 Representative Town Meeting member and member of the maintenance study committee, said the committee routinely examines townowned buildings.
“We want to get the master plan done properly,” he said.
Second Selectwoman Andrea Moore said the final report should come out soon, possibly by the committee’s next meeting on Aug. 16.
She said there are no immediate plans for the property, but it is an important building to the town. Klinge also said the plan will need to be finalized.
“If it was an easy solution for the property and building, it would’ve happened by now,” Moore said. “There are a lot of moving parts.”
Sal Liccione, a District 9 RTM member, said he thinks the town should try to save Golden Shadows and the other houses in Barron’s South, and provide more money and maintenance.
Liccione said he thinks the property is historic.
“I do think that we, as a town, need to look at this beautiful piece of land,” Liccione said. “I really implore members of the community and town to take a tour of this property — how beautiful it is.”
Klinge also said the property is currently zoned passively by the Planning and Zoning committee, which means there can be no active projects inside of Golden Shadows, such as having an event happen within the building.
Baron’s South currently has a senior center on it, which Klinge said is the only current active use right now on that property. He also said one of the houses on the property is rented by a Westport family through the town.
Klinge said he would like to have another committee look at the site and weigh the options against the current state of the buildings.
“I’m hoping to have a consensus from the committee and Town of Westport,” Klinge said about what should happen with Baron’s South.
He said he would be happy to support the town’s decision, whatever it is. He would, however, enjoy seeing a botanical garden that people can walk through there, though it can be put in various places.
“There are good people on that committee who are knowledgeable and who have been doing this for a while,” Moore said.