Two registered districts, one neighborhood
Suburban Westville is a State Register historic district of about 272 acres whose houses are stylistically cohesive and include work by leading New Haven architects. Few houses were built there in the 1940s and 1950s. Westville Village, the commercial core on Whalley Avenue, is a National Register district. Neither is one of the three local districts (Wooster Square, Quinnipiac River and City Point) where the Historic District Commission reviews exterior changes.
Where Westville kitchens need thought
- Small and mid-size kitchens in close-set houses. A few inches of aisle or one moved door can change what fits. See the small kitchen page.
- Borrowing space from a porch or back hall. Enclosing space changes the structure and may raise zoning and permit questions before design. Layout changes covers what to ask.
- Cabinet-only updates. The question is whether the existing boxes, layout and counters are worth keeping. See cabinets.
Near the West River
The city’s flood brochure names the West River among the waterways whose nearby properties are at risk. If your block is near it, check your address on the FEMA map and the city’s flood layer before you design anything low to the floor, and ask the City Plan Department whether flood requirements touch your project.
Questions from Westville homeowners
Does the state register listing add review to a kitchen remodel?
We did not find that it does. State and National Register districts are separate from the local districts where the Historic District Commission reviews exterior changes, and boundaries differ between the lists. If you plan an exterior change, ask the City Plan Department about your address.
Can I enclose a back porch to enlarge the kitchen?
It is a bigger project than it looks. Enclosing space changes the structure and may need zoning and building review. Ask both offices before design starts, and see the full remodel page.
How do I tell whether my cabinets are worth keeping?
Judge the boxes, not the doors. Solid, level boxes can often be refaced or refinished, while water-damaged or sagging ones are better replaced. Ask a remodeler to price both so you can compare.