Local Developer Pitches Renovation, Development of General's Residence
On the corner of East Wharf and Boston Post Road sits an old house, known to many in town as the General’s Residence. Once a grand structure, the roof now sags and the pealing paint and broken shutters create a picture of neglect. It’s a picture Madison residents are well familiar with, but that picture could soon shift dramatically.
At a recent Planning and Zoning Commission (PZC), local developer William Plunkett came before the commission with a plan to merge 908 Boston Post Road – The General’s Residence – and the neighboring property, 916 Boston Post Road into a combined lot exceeding 2.5 acres. Plunkett’s plan – which was ultimately approved by PZC – is to preserve the General’s Residence and build nine free-standing condominiums on the property.
The General’s Residence dates back to 1730 according to the Madison Historical Society. Over the centuries inhabitants of the home have included Captain Edward Griffin, members of the Hand family, members of the Scranton family, and most recently the home was inhabited by Mrs. Dorothy Staley. However, in the last few years, according to court records, Staley struggled to keep the home, taking out a reverse mortgage and battling numerous blight citations from the town. The home eventually entered into foreclosure in 2017.
Plunkett, under the business name Capt’n Griffin according to town records, is under contract to purchase and eventually develop 908 and 916 Boston Post Road for his condominium complex. Speaking to PZC, Plunkett said his plan is to develop the property but also try to save the General’s Residence.
“[Director of Planning and Economic Development] Dave Anderson reached out to me a couple of years ago about what could be done with this building,” he said. “The fear was that…once the title and the deed was cleared up about nine months ago and the property came on the market that someone would come in, knock down the building and put a 5,000 square-foot house there. We would prefer that doesn’t happen.”
For the main home, Plunkett said his plan is to stabilize the structure, remove some of the newer elements like the addition constructed for a small commercial enterprise, clean up the foundation, and do needed repairs like replace the roof and repoint the chimney.
“It’s kind of like an old painting,” he said of the home. “You don’t want to rip the whole thing apart to try to try to make it look better. You try to save it.”
However, Plunkett said the structure would be a key part of the condominium complex, but would not be converted for housing. Plunkett said he has spoken with members of the Madison Historical Society about future uses for the home.
“We talked about possibly, down the road, having this as an exhibit for different artifacts, either in Madison or other sections of Connecticut,” he said. “…But it would not be a residence. It’s not in good shape. Part of it could be used in a museum fashion, but it should not be renovated to the extent that it’s livable.”
Plunkett said he had building engineers look at the General’s Residence, who confirmed making the building structurally sound for modern residences would be very difficult.
“I’m not going to pick a fight with this building,” he said. “I’m just not going to do it. I will, however, do a really good job on the outside.”
The Condominium Complex
Plunkett, with the help of a team of architects and engineers presented the designs for the new structures to be built on the property. Architect Karin Patriquin, principal of Patriquin Architects, said the design is to build the new structures towards the edges of the property to allow for a central green space. The units are to be single-family condominiums, with units facing the marsh, the street, and the open green area. She said the plan is to keep the existing stone walls around the property as well as the existing curb cuts.
“For the style of the buildings, we are looking at small buildings that are very similar to some of the other colonial houses in the area – [specifically] those ones right on the street,” she said. “Then we are looking at something that is a little more modern, but still having the same kind of shapes on the marshlands side.”
John Cunningham of TEC Landscape Design said the landscape plans for the property tries to save as much as possible while incorporating new elements like a community garden.
“We’re going to leave as much existing growth on the property as we can,” he said. “…We’re making a suggestion to remove all invasive species. We’re in communication with DEEP and they’d like to have invasives removed.”
Some residents in attendance also raised concerns about the proximity of a development some close to wetlands. Engineer and land surveyor Thomas Stevens said the development plan takes into account the wetlands and the project will be completed in phases.
“Phase One is going to be the existing General’s Residence with the first unit, unit I, constructed,” he said. “Phase two will be the demolition of the house to the east of the property, and the construction of these four units in the last phase, will be the remaining units at the southwest corner of the property. As each phase is done, the appropriate sidewalks and driveways will be constructed along with it.”
What Next?
At the PZC hearing, one resident very familiar with the building, Jerry Connolly of the Audubon Shop located across the street from the General’s Residence on Boston Post Road asked when he might finally see some progress.
“I’ve found myself in the position since I directly look at it everyday having to answer thousands upon thousands of times every single day, ‘What’s going on’,” he said. “ It’s like my full-time job, which is not enjoyable but, okay, so then I’ve got one other quick question, kind of like a timeline and I see phase one, phase two... How many years are we talking about?”
Plunkett said the timeline from the start of construction would be about two years. For the remainder of the hearing, questions were tossed back and forth about various elements of the project. After numerous comments were made about the current condition of the General’s Residence, Paul Staley, son of the late Dorothy Staley, stood to offer an apology.
“My mother owned that property,” he said. “We lived there for a long time. I apologize for the problems the property had. My mother was ill and I had no resources to repair it so I can only stand up here and give you a heartfelt apology for the way the property looked. I am supporting Bill because he always does a great job but I really just wanted to stand up and apologize because we really didn’t want the house to go that way but things happened and I am just very sorry.”
Commissioners thanked Staley for his comment. Plunkett’s proposal was unanimously approved by PZC.