Building officials this week issued a cease-and-desist order to the owners of an antique White Oak Shade Road home that appears already to have undergone a partial demolition though no such approvals have been granted, documents show.
251 White Oak Shade Road in New Canaan. Credit: Michael Dinan
The New Canaan Building Department last week issued a permit for an interior renovation on the first and second floors of the 18th Century Cape Cod style-home at 251 White Oak Shade Road. The homeowners on Wednesday applied for a demolition permit.
Yet a look at the ca. 1700-built Cape on Thursday showed that the second floor already had been completely demolished.
The project “has gone significantly beyond what had been approved and permitted,” Chief Building Official Brian Platz said in an email Tuesday—before the demo application had even been submitted—to Daniel Mayet of New York Architect Designers, obtained by NewCanaanite.com following a formal request.
Platz continued in the email: “This project is currently under a cease and desist and may not resume until such time that you have secured a demolition permit. While no work may proceed you must make the existing conditions weather tight so as to avoid any further damage from the elements.”
The home had been purchased in December for $840,000, tax records show.
According to a building permit \ issued Jan. 29, the work at the house was to consist of “interior alterations only.” The building permit application describes only “remodeling/alteration of 2nd floor 1,600 [square feet” in addition to the first floor work.
The work was to include a kitchen renovation, renovation of two existing bathrooms and creation of an office on the first floor, and creating a master bedroom with a new bathroom, moving two other bathrooms and renovating slightly two other bedrooms on the second floor.
The contractor listed on the approved “interior” work is New York-based Vitaliy Vasilik of Vivax Home Improvement LLC.
Having passed this most perfect country cottage at 251 White Oak Shade Road every day for years, and never failing to admire its sweetness, I was horrified to see the roof torn away, a swath of sagging plastic hung (carelessly) over the wreckage.
I hope New Canaan throws the book at this bum.