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Newport, a City That Loves Its Mansions, Shudders at Its Newest One Newport, a City That Loves Its Mansions, Shudders at Its Newest One
(about 2 hours later)
This windswept outcropping, peering over the Atlantic, was a Gilded Age haven where the wealthy built mansions known by their names, not addresses: The Elms, Marble House and, most famous of all, The Breakers, built by Cornelius Vanderbilt II as a family retreat and a Renaissance-inspired monument to their success.This windswept outcropping, peering over the Atlantic, was a Gilded Age haven where the wealthy built mansions known by their names, not addresses: The Elms, Marble House and, most famous of all, The Breakers, built by Cornelius Vanderbilt II as a family retreat and a Renaissance-inspired monument to their success.
Newport has cared deeply about appearances ever since.Newport has cared deeply about appearances ever since.
So when large steel beams rose high in the air between the city’s most storied thoroughfares, framing a mansion that will have an unusual, many-sided shape and a flat roof, neighborhood residents and observers were aghast.So when large steel beams rose high in the air between the city’s most storied thoroughfares, framing a mansion that will have an unusual, many-sided shape and a flat roof, neighborhood residents and observers were aghast.
“This looks like a 30-foot-tall Martian spaceship landing on the Newport skyline,” said John Peixinho, a former chairman of the Historic District Commission.“This looks like a 30-foot-tall Martian spaceship landing on the Newport skyline,” said John Peixinho, a former chairman of the Historic District Commission.
Ross Cann, an architect whose apartment in a grand house overlooks the new home, said, “We’re just baffled by why somebody would want to inflict themselves on Newport in such a way as this.”Ross Cann, an architect whose apartment in a grand house overlooks the new home, said, “We’re just baffled by why somebody would want to inflict themselves on Newport in such a way as this.”
If more houses like this are built, Mr. Cann said, Newport will start to look like the Hamptons — or even California.If more houses like this are built, Mr. Cann said, Newport will start to look like the Hamptons — or even California.
The backlash has been swift — “New Home Not Welcome in Neighborhood,” read a front-page headline in The Newport Daily News — and neighbors are angry that a city that has preserved so much of its history has been unable to prevent the stylistic incursion by the home’s owners, Gina and James McCaffrey of Winchester, Mass.The backlash has been swift — “New Home Not Welcome in Neighborhood,” read a front-page headline in The Newport Daily News — and neighbors are angry that a city that has preserved so much of its history has been unable to prevent the stylistic incursion by the home’s owners, Gina and James McCaffrey of Winchester, Mass.
“As humans we need to have sympathy for them,” said Ruthie Sommers, an interior designer who lives nearby. But, she said, “I’m so upset that my children will look at this spaceship forever.”“As humans we need to have sympathy for them,” said Ruthie Sommers, an interior designer who lives nearby. But, she said, “I’m so upset that my children will look at this spaceship forever.”
This is Newport’s version of a “not in my backyard” dispute, a spat that in other cities might revolve around unsightly infrastructure, halfway houses or drug treatment facilities.This is Newport’s version of a “not in my backyard” dispute, a spat that in other cities might revolve around unsightly infrastructure, halfway houses or drug treatment facilities.
But in a neighborhood that regards itself as the fastidious keeper of an American architectural aesthetic, many residents are worried that the house is a harbinger of a transformation of taste that they had hoped to avoid.But in a neighborhood that regards itself as the fastidious keeper of an American architectural aesthetic, many residents are worried that the house is a harbinger of a transformation of taste that they had hoped to avoid.
“It sets a precedent,” Mr. Peixinho said, “for further bad design and overscale development in the community.”“It sets a precedent,” Mr. Peixinho said, “for further bad design and overscale development in the community.”
The Spaceship, as some call it, has spurred an identity crisis over mansions in a city with some of the genre’s well-known specimens.The Spaceship, as some call it, has spurred an identity crisis over mansions in a city with some of the genre’s well-known specimens.
“Our historic fabric is important around here, and it’s important to us,” said Pieter Roos, the executive director of the Newport Restoration Foundation.“Our historic fabric is important around here, and it’s important to us,” said Pieter Roos, the executive director of the Newport Restoration Foundation.
Newport was founded in 1639 by settlers who had fallen out with Massachusetts’ Puritans, becoming a trading hub (and a major contributor to New England’s slave trade) in the 1700s. In the late 19th century, moneyed industrialists from New York and farther south hired architects to create summer “cottages” — the mansions so named because their owners spent only a small part of their time there.Newport was founded in 1639 by settlers who had fallen out with Massachusetts’ Puritans, becoming a trading hub (and a major contributor to New England’s slave trade) in the 1700s. In the late 19th century, moneyed industrialists from New York and farther south hired architects to create summer “cottages” — the mansions so named because their owners spent only a small part of their time there.
Many of the mansions remain — preserved by homeowners and powerful nonprofits dedicated to the cause — and a drive through the neighborhood feels like a trip through a novel by Edith Wharton, who lived here in the late 1800s and wrote of the opulent parties and carriages rumbling down Bellevue Avenue and Ocean Drive in “The Age of Innocence.” There is a range of incomes and poverty elsewhere in the city, but many of the mansions remain — preserved by homeowners and powerful nonprofits dedicated to the cause — and a drive through the neighborhood feels like a trip through a novel by Edith Wharton, who lived here in the late 1800s and wrote of the opulent parties and carriages rumbling down Bellevue Avenue and Ocean Drive in “The Age of Innocence.”
“It is a jewel box of architecture, and the integrity of the community has been dependent on the good will of the people who own and preserve these houses,” Mr. Cann said.“It is a jewel box of architecture, and the integrity of the community has been dependent on the good will of the people who own and preserve these houses,” Mr. Cann said.
A second project is also raising eyebrows. A home planned near The Waves, which was designed by the prominent architect John Russell Pope in the 1920s, has drawn complaints for clashing with the neighborhood.A second project is also raising eyebrows. A home planned near The Waves, which was designed by the prominent architect John Russell Pope in the 1920s, has drawn complaints for clashing with the neighborhood.
Without a doubt, the McCaffreys’ house, which is currently a frame of steel and wood with a flat roof jutting above the trees, seems to be a departure from the other mansions. It appears to be a series of three-dimensional shapes, ringed with two levels of balconies, jutting from an octagonal shape in the center, like an irregularly shaped wreath.Without a doubt, the McCaffreys’ house, which is currently a frame of steel and wood with a flat roof jutting above the trees, seems to be a departure from the other mansions. It appears to be a series of three-dimensional shapes, ringed with two levels of balconies, jutting from an octagonal shape in the center, like an irregularly shaped wreath.
The final design calls for cedar siding and dozens of windows (which, much to the chagrin of some residents, will not have shutters), and passers-by have taken to pulling over to gaze at the structure.The final design calls for cedar siding and dozens of windows (which, much to the chagrin of some residents, will not have shutters), and passers-by have taken to pulling over to gaze at the structure.
The McCaffreys declined to comment, but their architect, Andrew DiGiammo, defended his design and said it complies with zoning regulations and will fit in better when it is complete.The McCaffreys declined to comment, but their architect, Andrew DiGiammo, defended his design and said it complies with zoning regulations and will fit in better when it is complete.
“It was just instant outrage and nobody has taken time to really look at what I’ve done,” Mr. DiGiammo said. “The plan is radial and very interesting. I think that because it’s radial somebody interpreted that as a spaceship or a saucer.”“It was just instant outrage and nobody has taken time to really look at what I’ve done,” Mr. DiGiammo said. “The plan is radial and very interesting. I think that because it’s radial somebody interpreted that as a spaceship or a saucer.”
Part of what has so incensed residents is their powerlessness to stop construction of the house, which sits on a lot just outside a historic district. Scale is another issue: The house sits on a street that once had carriage houses, and still has many smaller homes.Part of what has so incensed residents is their powerlessness to stop construction of the house, which sits on a lot just outside a historic district. Scale is another issue: The house sits on a street that once had carriage houses, and still has many smaller homes.
The house is widely viewed as an infringement on one of the many unwritten rules that, over a century after Ms. Wharton lived here, still govern some aspects of upper-class life in New England.The house is widely viewed as an infringement on one of the many unwritten rules that, over a century after Ms. Wharton lived here, still govern some aspects of upper-class life in New England.
“We need people to continue — as they had in the past — to be cognizant of the neighborhood they’re moving into,” said Pandy McDonough, who owns the home directly in front of the new mansion. “If they don’t, take your life’s dream of a house someplace else.”“We need people to continue — as they had in the past — to be cognizant of the neighborhood they’re moving into,” said Pandy McDonough, who owns the home directly in front of the new mansion. “If they don’t, take your life’s dream of a house someplace else.”
Still, even the original mansions received their share of criticism. The Breakers — the grandest of the coastal mansions — was derided by some as too ostentatious (it was among the largest homes in the country when it was built). A visitor touring The Breakers will hear that Henry James described such houses as “white elephants.”Still, even the original mansions received their share of criticism. The Breakers — the grandest of the coastal mansions — was derided by some as too ostentatious (it was among the largest homes in the country when it was built). A visitor touring The Breakers will hear that Henry James described such houses as “white elephants.”
“I suppose in the late 19th century, I probably would have said, ‘How can they possibly build anything so huge and garish?’” said John Shehan, another former chairman of the Historic District Commission.“I suppose in the late 19th century, I probably would have said, ‘How can they possibly build anything so huge and garish?’” said John Shehan, another former chairman of the Historic District Commission.
Mr. Shehan said he hoped that once the home was covered with cedar siding, the “apoplexy” will calm down.Mr. Shehan said he hoped that once the home was covered with cedar siding, the “apoplexy” will calm down.
“I’m hoping that they’ll make a nice donation to the opera house, which we’re trying to restore, and everyone will love them,” Mr. Shehan said, referring to the owners.“I’m hoping that they’ll make a nice donation to the opera house, which we’re trying to restore, and everyone will love them,” Mr. Shehan said, referring to the owners.