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BZA Backs B&B

by Thomas MacMillan | Mar 10, 2010 4:46 pm

(3) Comments | Commenting has been closed | E-mail the Author

Posted to: Business/Labor/ Economic Development, West Hills, Westville

Thomas MacMIllan Photo After 20 years of abandonment, a historic west side home is set for rebirth as a new bed and breakfast.

The Board of Zoning Appeals (BZA) gave a green light to the B&B plan on Tuesday night. Westville developer Thea Buxbaum (center in photo) appeared before the board to request the zoning variance that will allow her and her business partner, Rebecca Gratz (at right), to open the inn on Austin Street, in the shadow of West Rock. After hearing from several neighbors in favor of the proposal, the board voted unanimously to approve Buxbaum’s request.

The Greek Revival house dates from the 1820s. With $525,000, Buxbaum has renovated the house into a six-bedroom house. See previous stories on the house here and here.

On Tuesday night, Buxbaum filled board members in on the details of her new venture. The inn will offer a continental breakfast for guests. That means no cooking, Buxbaum said. The B&B will not serve lunch or dinner, but one of the two staff people will make reservations at area restaurants for guests, if requested.

The B&B proposal received the support of several people at Tuesday night’s meeting. Westville Alderman Greg Dildine spoke in favor. Beaver Hills Alderman Carl Godlfield sent in a letter of support. Gabriel Dasilva (at left in photo) and Chris Heitmann, the president and director of the Westville Village Renaissance Alliance respectively, both added words of praise for the plan.

The inn is expected to open in the next couple of months.

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Comments

posted by: robn on March 10, 2010  5:38pm

I really love preservation but this varience doesn’t seem legal. I’d love it if the article did more to define the hardship involved.

posted by: abg on March 11, 2010  2:11am

if Destefano gets his wish to levy a local hotel tax, would that include tax on B&Bs;?

posted by: zoning rules? on March 11, 2010  9:39am

robn, do those kinds of zoning changes actually require proof of hardship?  I haven’t seen any evidence of that in any of the articles on this project.

If it WAS necessary to claim hardship, then I agree this is a bit disingenuous.  Buxbaum knew going in that she was maxing out her savings—her own choice—so what was the end goal ever going to be, if not a B&B?  (Also, her “business partner” is worth millions, so it’s not like the rezoning was necessary to save them from bankruptcy.)

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