Whitehead house: Too young for reprieve?

FAIRFIELD -- An effort to save aviation pioneer Gustave Whitehead's homestead may have crash landed.

A review of town tax records on Monday could not establish that the house at 184 Alvin St. existed in 1914, so the property does not appear to meet the 100-year requirement to trigger a 60-day demolition delay.

Whitehead is credited by "Jane's All the World's Aircraft," the bible of the aviation industry, with having flown a powered, heavier-than-air craft in 1901 -- two years before the Wright brothers flew at Kitty Hawk, N.C.

Gary Tenk, of Stratford, who bought the house in March for $220,000, plans to build a new home on the site. The 10-day notice to demolish the existing 1,286-square-foot home expired Sunday, meaning Tenk could get a demolition permit immediately, officials said.

However, Tom Conley, Fairfield's chief building official, said he was attempting to contact Tenk and Town Attorney Stanton Lesser to determine if the town could have a little more time.

"One of the gray areas is, what constitutes a building," Conley said. "Is it when you dig a hole? Is it when you get a certificate of occupancy?"

He said both the demolition contractor and the developer "have been kind enough to hold off a while we try to make a determination."

First Selectman Michael Tetreau said he does not have the authority to order a 60-day waiting period, though he said he asked Tenk last week to hold off for a few days to allow a review of tax records.

Tenk could not be reached for comment Monday.

Assessor Donald Ross said Monday that the age of the house is still unclear.

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Whitehead house: Too young for reprieve?