Weston Historical Commission Imposes Demolition Delay on Ridgeway Road Colonial Revival House

WESTON -- September 9, 2019, Weston Historical Commission imposed a demolition delay on a colonial revival house at 183 Ridgeway Road and opened proceedings on two additional teardown applications at its September 9 meeting. The commission voted unanimously to delay demolition of the Urig property in the Chiltern Hundreds Historic Area, where architect Guy Grossi presented four facade options for a proposed replacement house, and appointed a subcommittee including member Alfred Aydelott to negotiate design revisions with the aim of lifting the delay early. Members Aydelott and Phyllis Halpern warned that synthetic siding and imitation slate could not replicate the original materials, with Halpern saying the proposal was "not just the style of the house, it's the whole context of colonial revival era when it was designed." The commission also voted the property at 74 Orchard Avenue and the 1927 house at 240 Ridgeway Road historically significant, scheduling public hearings for October 7 at which 12-month delays could be imposed. In a separate action, the commission voted unanimously to defer all work on a proposed preservation restriction at 261 Merriam Street until after Weston's December 3 special town meeting, declaring the Jones-Smith-Tarbell project its absolute funding priority, with a permanent building committee estimate putting construction costs at roughly $9.5 million.