New Canaan Makes Formal Offer To Buy Historic House, Land

NEW CANAAN, CT — The Town of New Canaan has made a formal offer of $250,000 to buy the historic house and 0.833 acres at 1124 Valley Road in New Canaan from Norwalk's First Taxing District, according to
correspondence sent last week from First Selectman Kevin Moynihan to the district.

For some time, the town and the district have sparred over the future of the house, which was built in 1805 and rests next to the district's Grupes Reservoir and New Canaan Land Trust property (10.5-acre Browne wildlife preserve).

New Canaan wants to preserve the historic home and possibly rent it out or let the land trust use or other town entity use it. The district has said that it is considering using it to enhance its water treatment operation.

At one point, a $1.2 million offer was floated by the town for the vacant home and a larger parcel, but that was rejected. The district also offered to sell the home and 0.833 acres to the town for $900,000, which the town subsequently rejected.

A recent appraisal by Fairfield-based Kerin & Fazio placed the market value of the property at $250,000, which Moynihan says is partly because of its location next to a reservoir and it being too small to be developed by an outside party.

Photo of 1124 Valley Road in New Canaan via Google Maps

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