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ARMONK, N.Y. - The North Castle Landmark Preservation Committee met Tuesday night but didn't discuss the recent demolition of an old building on Maple Avenue that some consider a historic property.
Town Supervisor Howard Arden, the committee's liaison, said the 19th century home of Judge William Haviland, and more recently the site of a gun shop and Bea's Cake Bakery, was bulldozed three weeks ago as part of the Armonk Square development. No one opposed the demolition and Arden said he wasn't sure if it was a historic property. "As time goes by and you don't have buildings recognized, you lose them one by one," he said.
Susan Shimer, chairman of the Landmark Preservation Committee, said there was a hitching post in front of the house that was gone by the 1980's. Demolishing the building "highlights the importance of noting all significant buildings and keeping track of what is happening to them before changes or demolitions take place, not after," she said.
At Tuesday night's meeting, the committee discussed the establishment of special character districts, "which would maintain the character of existing homes," Shimer said. Other Westchester towns, including Lewisboro, Mt. Pleasant and Scarsdale, have established special character districts, but North Castle hasn't done it.
Shimer said the districts would include historic homes and that homeowners should secure landmark status for their properties. But Arden said some homeowners don't want their homes marked as landmarks because it prohibits types of renovations.
The committee also discussed the Cornell Birdsall house, which was built in 1800 and is the site of Town Hall Annex on Bedford Road. No recommendations were made on the house but the committee is considering whether to establish restrictions on any future changes that might be made.
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