Blog

Chairman’s View: Revaluation DECEMBER 20, 2018 BY JOHN ENGEL. CHAIRMAN, TOWN COUNCIL New Canaan’s real estate grand list fell by $570 million (7.15%) compared to 2017.In the recent revaluation: 4,861 parcels saw average decreases of 11%. 2,308 saw average increases of 13%. For homes worth more than $3 million, the average decrease was 14%. For $2 million […]

Chairman’s View: 11 resolutions for 2019 DECEMBER 31, 2018 BY JOHN ENGEL. CHAIRMAN, TOWN COUNCIL When Advertiser reporter Grace Duffield asked for a New Canaan resolution, I could hardly stop at one. Here’s 10 more. We have much to do in 2019. Bike paths from New Canaan to the Darien beaches. Darien suggested this. Get state permission […]

Chairman’s View: ‘Not to eliminate buildings, but to eliminate expense’ JANUARY 22, 2019 BY JOHN ENGEL, CHAIRMAN, TOWN COUNCIL In the fourth week of a federal government shutdown, it’s a good time to reflect on the state of Connecticut and town government. There is cause for optimism. Newly elected State Sen. Alex Bergstein announced the State is […]

Chairman’s View: Revaluation and the condo market FEBRUARY 28, 2019 BY JOHN ENGEL, CHAIRMAN, TOWN COUNCIL Condominiums rose 9% in value in a 5-year total revaluation that was down 7.19% The average condo owner will see a double-digit increase in their taxes, Specifically, 955 condos will see average increases in taxes of $1,137. Many condo owners are […]

Spoiler alert. I really like New Canaan’s prospects. Here are 5 observations taken from the revaluation, the town budget, the state election, and the first quarter real estate sales. There is a happy ending. 1. The uncertainty coming from Hartford is probably worse than anything Hartford will actually do to us. We accept a certain […]

Chairman’s View: On bags and budgets FEBRUARY 7, 2019 BY JOHN ENGEL, CHAIRMAN, TOWN COUNCIL The Town Council is considering a proposed townwide ban of supermarket plastic bags. Letters are starting to pour in. Supporters of the ban cite the environmental impact. Opponents of a ban say we are chipping away at freedom and personal choice. Greenwich, […]

Mead Park barn demolition plan remains in place after Council hears pitch to save it SEPTEMBER 13, 2018 BY GREG REILLY The brick barn at Richmond Hill Road and Mead Park.— Greg Reilly photo Even though the Town Council had no authority to take any action, they spent an hour-and-a-half of their four-hour meeting Wednesday night revisiting […]

  Letter: Second opinion needed on reval MARCH 7, 2019 BY LASZLO PAPP    Editor, Advertiser: In his biweekly column in the Advertiser, Chairman John Engel suggested that nothing is wrong with the condo revaluation, but rather he questions if our zoning laws “adequately address an affordable condominium solution.” Having more than 30 years of involvement with our zoning […]

Letter: Library is ‘thinking smart’ DECEMBER 10, 2018 BY ROBERT BUTMAN PRESIDENT, BOARD OF TRUSTEES NEW CANAAN LIBRARY Editor, Advertiser: This letter is in response to the Setting Priorities opinion column by John Engel, recently published in the New Canaan Advertiser. We appreciate the early support for the Library that John is voicing in his column. We […]

Halstead’s Engel is year’s ‘Realtor Citizen’ for service to Town DECEMBER 26, 2018 BY NEW CANAAN ADVERTISER John Engel is this year’s ‘Realtor Citizen’ for his service to the Town of New Canaan. The New Canaan Board of Realtors’ Realtor Citizen of the Year is John Engel, center, with with board President Janis Hennessy, left, and realtor […]

The Town Council on April 4th approved a Total Expenditure Budget of $150.94 million for fiscal year 2019-20, representing a decrease of 0.43% over the current fiscal year’s amended budget expenditure of $151.58 million. This is the first decline in more than a decade. The funds to be raised by taxation declined to $139.23 million […]

New Canaan’s real estate grand list fell by $570 million dollars (7.15%) compared to 2017. 4861 parcels saw average decreases of 11%.  2308 saw average increases of 13%. For $3+ million homes the average decrease was 14%. For $2-$3 million homes the average decrease was 10%. For $1-$2 million the average decrease was 7%. Below […]

Spectacular landscape overlooking Collins Pond with Dock, privacy, pool, outbuildings (4 garages & workshop) and guest or caretaker apartment. This is truly remarkable serene setting on oversized lot with magnificent old trees and sun filled terrace with BBQ. The convenient location off Ponus Ridge, on small cul de sac of 4 homes, is only 5 […]

Charming and spacious vintage farmhouse attractively set on a corner lot surrounded by New England stone walls. Located in the Historic Silvermine area. The warmth and graciousness of the floorplan is enhanced by a grand stone fireplace and a spacious, updated country kitchen. There is a finished room and bath on the third floor and […]

Recently renovated antique Colonial with stunning gardens and complete privacy on .38 acres opposite the Mead Park entrance. This beautiful, high site is reached by a sweeping, graceful driveway and backs up to nearly half an acre of woods. Features 5 bedrooms, 3 and 1/2 baths, 2 fireplaces, a new marble kitchen, updated baths, mechanicals […]

Timeless elegance characterizes this stone & slate estate set on 3 manicured, private acres just 1 mile from town. Surrounded on 3 sides by 40-acres of Land Trust and renovated by Brooks & Falotico, the quality is stunning. Approach through a classic formal hornbeam allee to a crushed-gravel walled courtyard defining the front gardens. A […]

Westport, a little less expensive at $1.33mm, suffers a little bit less, volume down 9% in October and 2% for the year with prices down only 7% for the year. Wilton where the average house is still under $800k (and condos under $400k), is seeing prices rise 4% (and 13%) for the year despite inventory levels rising […]

Chairman’s View: Improve our planning for Town building maintenance OCTOBER 18, 2018 BY NEW CANAAN ADVERTISER New Canaan Town Council Chairman John Engel’s weekly guest column. New Canaan Town Council Chairman John Engel First, let’s talk about the 100-point Pavement Condition Index (PCI). When a road scores above 86% PCI it’s excellent, requiring only corrective maintenance: crack […]

Chairman’s View: Council faces cost of debt, capital projects and lower property values OCTOBER 4, 2018 BY NEW CANAAN ADVERTISER A guest column from New Canaan Town Council Chairman John Engel. New Canaan has the highest per-capita debt in Connecticut at $5,800, double that of Darien because we are a larger town with many more miles of […]