Historic Norwalk Home Illegally Demolished: Mayor

NORWALK, CT — Mayor Harry Rilling said the city will pursue "the strictest penalties possible" after a historic home in Norwalk was illegally demolished over the weekend.

In a statement released Tuesday, Rilling said the city received a call Saturday asking for information about a home located at 21 Willow Street in Norwalk, which is considered a historic building, being demolished.

Rilling noted a contractor working on the home had a permit to renovate the second floor, however a demolition permit was never issued, Rilling said.

In response to the call, Chief Building Official Bill Ireland immediately went to the property to assess the situation and saw an illegal demolition was underway, Rilling said. Ireland issued an immediate stop work order, which is still in effect as of Tuesday evening.

According to Rilling, the contractor was not a licensed demolition contractor and the incident is being reviewed by the city's legal department.

"I am disgusted by this contractor's actions and want to ensure he knows that when someone violates the city's requirements to issue a demolition permit or get a proper demolition license, there are consequences," Rilling said in a statement. "What he’s taken from us was more than just a building, it was an integral part of Norwalk's history. In coordination with the Norwalk Historical Commission and our legal department, we plan to pursue this matter to the fullest extent of the law, including potential civil and criminal penalties."

Patch has reached out to the Norwalk Historical Society for more information.