Historic House in Milford Will be Knocked Down Despite Efforts to Save the Property

The Elijah Bryan House, located at 250 Gulf Street, will be demolished on Friday.

The owner of the house applied for a demolition permit in June. According to the Milford Mirror, the city’s historian placed a 90-day delay on the demolition to provide concerned parties with time to seek out alternate solutions.

The Dutch half gambrel house was built in 1790 and is one of the oldest remaining houses in Milford.

Alice Oliver, chair of the Milford Historical District III Study Committee, has been trying to create a historical district along Gulf Street.

“We could have saved the house if Gulf Street was officially recognized as a historic district,” Oliver said. The house is in good condition and was appraised for $351,000 last year, according to the Milford Mirror.

According to Oliver, 15 houses on the street are cited in Connecticut’s historic resources inventory as having significant historical and architectural features. Sixty percent of the houses on Gulf Street are more than 70 years old, while eight houses are between 150 and 242 years old.

Oliver’s committee is still trying to create a historical district on the street. In order to be given the status, two-thirds of the homeowners on Gulf Street must vote in favor of the proposal.

Oliver said residents fear that the designation will be too restrictive. If given the status, commissioners will only have the authority to restrict dramatic changes to the exteriors of the homes that are visible from Gulf Street.

The owners of the home plan to build a new house at the address.

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