The property at 39 Richmond Hill Road in New Canaan long has been neglected. It's owned by town resident Sam Zendehrouh. Building officials said he has been non-responsive to requests to address the problems. Credit: Michael Dinan
The property at 39 Richmond Hill Road in New Canaan long has been neglected. It's owned by town resident Sam Zendehrouh. Building officials said he has been non-responsive to requests to address the problems. Credit: Michael Dinan
The property at 39 Richmond Hill Road in New Canaan long has been neglected. It's owned by town resident Sam Zendehrouh. Building officials said he has been non-responsive to requests to address the problems. Credit: Michael Dinan
The property at 39 Richmond Hill Road in New Canaan long has been neglected. It's owned by town resident Sam Zendehrouh. Building officials said he has been non-responsive to requests to address the problems. Credit: Michael Dinan
The property at 39 Richmond Hill Road in New Canaan long has been neglected. It's owned by town resident Sam Zendehrouh. Building officials said he has been non-responsive to requests to address the problems. Credit: Michael Dinan
The property at 39 Richmond Hill Road in New Canaan long has been neglected. It's owned by town resident Sam Zendehrouh. Building officials said he has been non-responsive to requests to address the problems. Credit: Michael Dinan
Town officials say they’ve fielded multiple complaints of blight on two conspicuous, adjacent Richmond Hill Road properties marked by peeling and dilapidated structures, unkempt yards, garbage and general disarray.
Owned by New Canaan resident Sam Zendehrouh, the eyesores include a neglected 1820-built home and freestanding garage at 39 Richmond Hill Road and vacant, overgrown lot at 45 Richmond Hill Road where a house that had been constructed the same year came down in 2011.
Neighbors in letters to New Canaan Town Building Official Brian Platz have said the remaining house has a hole in its clearly deteriorating roof and that after rainstorms, Zendehrouh himself has been seen dumping buckets of water out of the structure and siphoning rainwater out of the second floor.
Asked about the situation, Platz said that the owner “has not been very responsive.”
“He has been responsive in words but not in action,” Platz said. “This is not fair to any of the residents of New Canaan, but especially to the immediate neighbors who have had to live next to that for many years. This has been an ongoing problem. This began with the first house and that was 10 years ago.”
Located across Richmond Hill Road from the northeast corner of Mead Park, the side-by-side parcels are .33 and .49 acres. Zendehrouh—himself a Shadow Lane resident, according to tax records—has owned them for decades: He purchased number 39 for $235,000, and number 45 for $282,500, both in 1987.
It isn’t clear what he plans for the properties or why they’ve been left to deteriorate so conspicuously. Zendehrouh could not be reached for comment.
According to correspondence with the town obtained by NewCanaanite.com, Zendehrouh in the past has been accused of dragging his feet in addressing the neglected properties. Though he had been instructed in March to pursue a demolition permit for the home at 39 Richmond Hill that still stands, a search of Building Department files shows that a demo permit application never was received by the town.
Instead, a summary letter dated March 8 noted exterior cleanup work on the property and said Zendehrouh was pursuing the demolition.
The property owner said he “had requested proposals from the demolition contractors in order to proceed with preparing and submitting the permit application and demolition.”
“I would like to mention that, we had kept this house standing in order to get convinced that we cannot preserve it or incorporate it into our rebuilding plans. After exhaustive studies, investigation and consultation, earlier this year we came to the final conclusion that architecturally and structurally it would not be possible to do this. And we have accepted that the house needs to be razed and replaced.”
Zendehrouh continued: “Once we came to this conclusion, I contacted a demolition contractor that previously had shown interest to do this work to give us its proposal. It took him a while to respond. As indicated in the attached copy of an email from this contractor, he has explained some reasons why he was unable to get back to me quicker. However, before receiving this email, not willing to wait longer, I had contacted other contractors for their proposals. I am waiting to hear from one more, after which I will choose one for the work and would inform you.”
No further correspondence appears in the file for the home and, though a notice of intent to demolish sign appears on the antique structure on Richmond Hill Road, it remains.
In their complaints to the town, neighbors have cited New Canaan’s blight ordinance.
It’s outlined in Section 7A of the Town Code. Blight itself is defined as “Any condition or combination of conditions in public view upon any residential premises that tends to devalue real estate, or that is a negative influence upon the neighborhood or upon any neighbor’s use and enjoyment of his or her own property, due to, characterized by, or reflective of neglect, decay, deterioration, disrepair, rotting, overgrowth, infestation, dilapidation, or failure to maintain.”
6 thoughts on “‘Responsive in Words But Not in Action’: Neighbors, Officials Eye Long-Neglected Richmond Hill Road Properties”
I drive buy this house every day and i wounder why the town let’s this home get away with this mess .And there a white pipe coming out of the right side dump something in too the stream going to the park .
74 Forest is adorable. It should be restored. The wood in these old houses is from the old growth forests and is excellent compared to the wood you can buy today. These are solid homes with the spirit of New Canaan history in their architecture – this house was built in 1829 – Andrew Jackson was president – it was standing during the Civil War, both World Wars, when horses clip-clopped by homes – priceless. Instead of criticizing the owner – maybe we should volunteer to help fix it up!
If you live in New Canaan – you are probably pretty blessed. Giving back isn’t just writing a check to a charity on the other side of the world – doesn’t it mean helping neighbors? If this person could keep up the house – they would. Could we volunteer as a community to help the person maintain it? AmeriCares (now in Stamford) used to sponsor teams to repair/paint homes for elderly or disabled residents: http://www.homefrontprogram.org/ They won an award in 2000. Since its inception in 1988, AmeriCares HomeFront, a one-day home repair blitz, has renovated over 1,550 homes, community centers and shelters for people who, because of physical or financial limitations, do not have the means to do so themselves. In the culmination of year-round planning and organization, over 9,000 skilled and unskilled volunteers undertake these repair projects on the first Saturday of May each year. Their “hands on” assistance is supported by the generosity of product and professional service donors. http://www.charitywire.com/charity18/00814.html
I am a homeowner on Richmond Hill Road, next to this property,(and 35-year resident) and have been pursuing Mr. Zendehrouh for almost two years to clean his property and take care of the vacant house at 39 RHR. He is a great “stall” artist and “yes” man. The description of the property in your article just brushes the surface of the deterioration of the buildings and other violations under the town’s “blight” regulations. The roof on one side of the house has a large hole in it; the other side not only has a larger hole but at one point 2x4s in a “x” formation were nailed over the hole. Now that is gone and it appears that part of the roof is caving in and the rest of the roof slipping away on both sides and slowly falling down. Gutters have fallen down on one side and are going down on the other side. When leaders fell off the roof area, Mr. Z just threw them onto a pile he had accumulated in the yard with all types of debris from the house – window frames, glass, odds and ends of lumber – then covered with a blue tarp. The back porch is detaching from the house. The garage is caving in, with window frames gone and side door open for more than a year. He kept 3 rusted lawnmowers on the property in various places, along with garden stuff and a ceramic sink on the ground. He clear-cut all trees on both lots, affording a better view to all neighbors of the deterioration of the house and the accumulated trash. He left the tree stumps on the property where now there are weeds and grass and cannot be seen but the neighbors have views of overgrown lots. The only time I have been able to get some of the trash removed is by waiting till I have seen him or his wife on the property and asking to have some of the debris removed. Most the debris/trash – the rusted lawnmowers, sink, etc. – has been “removed” from my sight and put on the other side of the garage affording the neighbor on the other side a view of the trash. On that side he has added a large mound of what appears to be soil.
Over the past two years, Mr. Z has told us a number of stories – he is looking for a builder to buy the lots and build a house for him and his wife perhaps with other houses the builder might want to erect. I know of a builder who made him an offer for both lots but no reply was received from Mr. Z. Then he decided to try to get a builder to rehab the house for his own use (this was earlier this year when the house was beyond repair), and was told that the house could not be used. (I am sure with all the holes and open windows there must be much damage including mold.) Then he said, “Have patience. Maybe we will build a house like yours, or maybe something larger.” I have invited him a couple of times to visit and to see what can be done with a house on a small lot, one built by Karp Associates as part of a PUD on Richmond Hill Road which we purchased. No answer. And no action at all. Earlier this year I contacted Brian Platz, New Canaan’s blight officer, to see if he could get any action. Mr. Platz has been pursuing Mr. Z for a resolution. As your story states, there is a history with Mr. Z concerning the other property he owned next door. He did the same thing there, let an older house deteriorate to the point where demolition was the only answer.
Having been on the board of the Historical Society for a couple of terms I hated to see the deterioration of an early home in New Canaan. Mr. Zendehrouh’s actions over the years have exhibited no regard for the house (or the previous one that had to be demolished) and he has owned them since 1987. I was told by him that they were purchased for investment and he used 39 Richmond Hill Road, the remaining house, as his office.
In June I received a registered letter that a demolition permit was being filed with the town to take down the house. As of yesterday morning, August 11, no permit had been filed. Today, however, I am informed by Mr. Platz that, finally, a permit request has been filed. I hope that the process moves along without further delay. Richmond Hill Road, from Park Street to Weed Street, is a wonderful downtown location with diversity of housing and house styles, all of them so well-cared for. Perhaps the 39 Richmond Hill Road location may become the same.
I drive buy this house every day and i wounder why the town let’s this home get away with this mess .And there a white pipe coming out of the right side dump something in too the stream going to the park .
try looking at 78 Forest Street; virtually same ugly story. It is time for our Town officials to crack down effectively on these miscreants, quickly!!
74 Forest.
74 Forest is adorable. It should be restored. The wood in these old houses is from the old growth forests and is excellent compared to the wood you can buy today. These are solid homes with the spirit of New Canaan history in their architecture – this house was built in 1829 – Andrew Jackson was president – it was standing during the Civil War, both World Wars, when horses clip-clopped by homes – priceless. Instead of criticizing the owner – maybe we should volunteer to help fix it up!
If you live in New Canaan – you are probably pretty blessed. Giving back isn’t just writing a check to a charity on the other side of the world – doesn’t it mean helping neighbors? If this person could keep up the house – they would. Could we volunteer as a community to help the person maintain it? AmeriCares (now in Stamford) used to sponsor teams to repair/paint homes for elderly or disabled residents: http://www.homefrontprogram.org/ They won an award in 2000. Since its inception in 1988, AmeriCares HomeFront, a one-day home repair blitz, has renovated over 1,550 homes, community centers and shelters for people who, because of physical or financial limitations, do not have the means to do so themselves. In the culmination of year-round planning and organization, over 9,000 skilled and unskilled volunteers undertake these repair projects on the first Saturday of May each year. Their “hands on” assistance is supported by the generosity of product and professional service donors. http://www.charitywire.com/charity18/00814.html
I am a homeowner on Richmond Hill Road, next to this property,(and 35-year resident) and have been pursuing Mr. Zendehrouh for almost two years to clean his property and take care of the vacant house at 39 RHR. He is a great “stall” artist and “yes” man. The description of the property in your article just brushes the surface of the deterioration of the buildings and other violations under the town’s “blight” regulations. The roof on one side of the house has a large hole in it; the other side not only has a larger hole but at one point 2x4s in a “x” formation were nailed over the hole. Now that is gone and it appears that part of the roof is caving in and the rest of the roof slipping away on both sides and slowly falling down. Gutters have fallen down on one side and are going down on the other side. When leaders fell off the roof area, Mr. Z just threw them onto a pile he had accumulated in the yard with all types of debris from the house – window frames, glass, odds and ends of lumber – then covered with a blue tarp. The back porch is detaching from the house. The garage is caving in, with window frames gone and side door open for more than a year. He kept 3 rusted lawnmowers on the property in various places, along with garden stuff and a ceramic sink on the ground. He clear-cut all trees on both lots, affording a better view to all neighbors of the deterioration of the house and the accumulated trash. He left the tree stumps on the property where now there are weeds and grass and cannot be seen but the neighbors have views of overgrown lots. The only time I have been able to get some of the trash removed is by waiting till I have seen him or his wife on the property and asking to have some of the debris removed. Most the debris/trash – the rusted lawnmowers, sink, etc. – has been “removed” from my sight and put on the other side of the garage affording the neighbor on the other side a view of the trash. On that side he has added a large mound of what appears to be soil.
Over the past two years, Mr. Z has told us a number of stories – he is looking for a builder to buy the lots and build a house for him and his wife perhaps with other houses the builder might want to erect. I know of a builder who made him an offer for both lots but no reply was received from Mr. Z. Then he decided to try to get a builder to rehab the house for his own use (this was earlier this year when the house was beyond repair), and was told that the house could not be used. (I am sure with all the holes and open windows there must be much damage including mold.) Then he said, “Have patience. Maybe we will build a house like yours, or maybe something larger.” I have invited him a couple of times to visit and to see what can be done with a house on a small lot, one built by Karp Associates as part of a PUD on Richmond Hill Road which we purchased. No answer. And no action at all. Earlier this year I contacted Brian Platz, New Canaan’s blight officer, to see if he could get any action. Mr. Platz has been pursuing Mr. Z for a resolution. As your story states, there is a history with Mr. Z concerning the other property he owned next door. He did the same thing there, let an older house deteriorate to the point where demolition was the only answer.
Having been on the board of the Historical Society for a couple of terms I hated to see the deterioration of an early home in New Canaan. Mr. Zendehrouh’s actions over the years have exhibited no regard for the house (or the previous one that had to be demolished) and he has owned them since 1987. I was told by him that they were purchased for investment and he used 39 Richmond Hill Road, the remaining house, as his office.
In June I received a registered letter that a demolition permit was being filed with the town to take down the house. As of yesterday morning, August 11, no permit had been filed. Today, however, I am informed by Mr. Platz that, finally, a permit request has been filed. I hope that the process moves along without further delay. Richmond Hill Road, from Park Street to Weed Street, is a wonderful downtown location with diversity of housing and house styles, all of them so well-cared for. Perhaps the 39 Richmond Hill Road location may become the same.