A prominent, 1780-built Greek Revival-style home on God’s Acre that’s sat empty for years is poised for restoration after its owner signed a contract to sell it to a local builder, officials said Monday.
Arnold Karp of Karp Associates said he and the New Canaan man who owns the property have agreed on a price for the home at 4 Main St. A bank six years ago started foreclosure proceedings and needs signs off on the sale in order for the property to be transferred, Karp said.
“Our concept is the keep the façade but the house has been leaking for years—it’s a mold factory—so you have to go in and rip the insides out and start fresh,” Karp told NewCanaanite.com. “The longer they wait, the worse it is for us.”
Karp said he’s in constant communication with attorneys representing the bank and is hopeful that the sale will close soon.
Once it does, a conspicuous antique whose unkempt property long has been an eyesore to passersby finally will be restored and maintained.
The target two summers ago of a blight complaint from the volunteers who oversee New Canaan’s historic district, the 10-room, 7,000-square-foot home for years has been tied up in lawsuits and foreclosure proceedings that became even more complicated due to a procedural error in court.
In June 2016, after talks with one prospective buyer broke down, historic district officials reported that a local builder appeared close to making an offer on the house, owned since 1984 by Dr. James Talbot.
In 2013, a local couple, whose detailed plans for restoring the home gained favor from the commission, made an offer on the home that had been accepted by the bank. Two months later, officials reported that Talbot had rejected that offer.
In July 2015, a civil court issued a judgment of foreclosure by sale on the property, according to records on file with the Connecticut Judicial Branch. That October, Talbot appealed that decision, and procedural errors in state court that then came to light threatened to delay foreclosure proceedings further.
The case went to state Appellate Court, a 2016 court filing obtained by NewCanaanite.com shows, and it has remained tied up there since.
What waivers will Karp be requesting? Asking for material waivers is always his MO. He should be made to comply with the same rules as everyone else.
PLEASE P&Z – NO WAIVER WITH RESPECT TO PARKING. Parking is very limited and much in demand in the God’s Acre area.