Phil Donahue’s mansion to be demolished after rat, raccoon takeover
A historic Connecticut mansion once owned by talk show pioneer Phil Donahue is set to be bulldozed by its new owners, who say that the structure is beyond repair and overrun with vermin. Located at 114 Beachside Avenue in Westport, the Tudor-style mansion was sold for a record $25 million to the late financier Herbert M. Allison, Jr. in 2006, some two decades after it served as a weekend retreat for Donahue and his actress wife, Marlo Thomas.
The new owners of the property, Peggy and Gary Reiner, paid $16.5 million for the mansion in 2020 as part of their plans to build a brand-new 20,000 square-foot beachfront home. Peggy Reiner claims that the original structure is in a state of disrepair, with a sagging roof and a basement that has flooded numerous times. “It kind of is not savable, sadly,” Reiner told the Westport Historic District Commission.
Despite opposition from the commission, which has imposed a 180-day stay on the demolition, the Reiners are set to move ahead with their plans to tear down the 1911 mansion. Grayson Braun, the commission’s chairwoman, has voiced her disappointment at the decision and hoped that the structure could be saved. “It’s a beautiful and very left-intact Tudor revival home,” she said, “but I can’t speak to whether, or not it is infested with rats, or raccoons, or moths, or any of the things Mrs. Reiner claims in the hearing, and I don’t know what she knew when she bought it.”
The demolition of the Beachside Avenue mansion marks the end of an era for Westport, which was once known as the “Hollywood of the East” and played host to some of the biggest names in showbiz. In addition to Donahue and Thomas, other celebrities who lived in Westport at the time included Paul Newman, Joanne Woodward, Rodney Dangerfield, and Martha Stewart.
FAQs:
What is the historical significance of the mansion on Beachside Avenue?
The mansion, located in Westport, was part of the town’s “Hollywood of the East” era, where it played host to some of the biggest names in showbiz. It was once owned by Phil Donahue and Marlo Thomas and sold for a record $25 million in 2006.
Why are the new owners of the mansion tearing it down?
Peggy and Gary Reiner claim that the structure is beyond repair and beyond saving due to its state of disrepair. They plan to demolish the mansion and build a new beachfront property in its place.
What has been the response of the Westport Historic District Commission to the demolition plans?
The commission has imposed a 180-day stay on the demolition and has asked the Reiners to discuss alternatives to tearing down the mansion. However, no progress has been made in finding a solution, and the Reiners are set to move ahead with their plans in September.
Who are some of the other famous residents of Westport during its “Hollywood of the East” era?
Paul Newman, Joanne Woodward, Rodney Dangerfield, and Martha Stewart were among the other celebrities who lived in Westport during this time.
Rats and raccoons take over Phil Donahue’s mansion, leading to its demolition.
A mansion located on Connecticut’s “Gold Coast,” owned by Phil Donahue and sold for $25 million, is set to be bulldozed by its current owners, Peggy and Gary Reiner. Peggy claims that the palatial Tudor on Westport’s exclusive Beachside Avenue is infested with vermin and falling apart, necessitating its demolition. The mansion was owned by Donahue and his wife Marlo Thomas for two decades, during the 80s and 90s when Westport was known as “Hollywood of the East,” hosting numerous showbiz celebrities. The Reiners plan to build a beach-view home on the site, but face resistance from the town’s Historic District Commission. The commission imposed a 180-day stay to explore all alternatives before demolition, which the Reiners have not engaged with, so the mansion is expected to come down in September. The estate was listed in 2017 but was sold to the Reiners in 2020 for $16.5 million, almost half its $32 million listing price. The town of Westport has been grappling with the issue of preserving historic homes amid a trend of demolitions and the rise of McMansions.