Jack and Phoebe were old friends from our days studying and working at Wainwright House, a retreat center in Rye, New York. In the mid-seventies, I built my first deck at their residence on Palmer Lane in Old Greenwich, Connecticut. Years later, as they prepared to move to the new home I built for them nearby, we consulted about what to do with Palmer Lane.
This was a time in real estate history where “tear downs” were not the norm
Phoebe and Jack were deeply connected to this small, comfortable home. They had raised their three boys there. The beautiful property had the potential to be split into two valuable plots. Dividing the property would put any subsequent house right on top of the existing house. Jack and Phoebe did not want the property “milked” in this way. But, the view of Greenwich Cove in the distance made the land highly desirable for development.
Jack and Phoebe chose to remodel Palmer Lane and then sell it
We constructed a new master bedroom/bathroom suite on the second floor. In addition, we replaced the kitchen counters, toilets, and faucets. Also refinished the oak floors and painted the entire interior. It was ready for the next happy family … or so we thought!
A realtor we knew personally was engaged as the Listing Agent. It was explicitly stated that the house and grounds should not be shown to developers under any circumstances.
Happily ever after?
It was a Saturday morning, I recall, as I put some finishing touches on the project… It looked great! A young, clean-cut couple from Ohio came to view the house. They loved it, oogled over the views, and spoke of raising a family there. An offer was quickly made and accepted – an all-cash sale concluded within a few weeks.
Deception!
Well, unfortunately, that couple was a front for developers pouncing on the emerging cash cow of Greenwich real estate. “Progress.”
Within several weeks, the sweet little house on the cove, and all the history, love, and work within it, fell to the wrecking ball. It eventually became two prefabricated rectangles of unimaginable splendor.
In an article called “Permits, Ownership, Planet Stewardship”, I wrote about passing the legacy of craftsmanship and good karma on to the next generation.
This battle was lost, but the war goes on…
At the heart level, Phoebe and Jack were deeply saddened by the dishonesty that robbed them of their “happily ever after.” It was not the future they had hoped for Palmer Lane.
In the bigger picture, this movement to disavow the past while mining it for profit is why we are in the mess we are in. A great society builds on the foundational strengths of the past, not destroying them.
Our society has generated magnificent waste in the last 100 years. Some insist on calling it “progress.”
I hope to get another chance to do it right and not let greed succeed.
