Valery Kogan Will Not Be Defeated
Those interested in pissing off their neighbors could learn a thing or two from Russian mogul Valery Kogan and his wife Olga. The two purchased a 20,000-square-foot Greenwich mansion back in 2005, then infuriated neighbors by announcing plans in May 2008 to tear it down and build a new 27,000-square-foot palace—replete with 26 toilets—in its place. That plan was rejected by the Greenwich planning commission, which led the Kogans to propose a somewhat more modest plan, which called for a mere 21,000-square-feet of living space and 15 bathrooms.
Olga Kogan resubmitted the revised plan to the commission in October and after months of delays, the commission finally reconvened today to make a decision on Tuesday. So what did they decide? Nothing, yet. The commission said it would needed more time to make a decision, largely because the case has created a groundswell of opposition by both neighbors and local community groups. It seems some people think that a winter garden filled with "guitar god" statues, a patio shaped like an electric guitar, and a pool lit by fiber-optics may damage Greenwich's upstanding reputation! It could be worse, though. It's not like they're asking to put in an ice skating rink or anything.
Zoning board again reviews Russian tycoon's mansion plans [Greenwich Time]
Greenwich Nonplussed by Kogan's Bathrooms, 'Guitar God' Statues [BN]
Russian's Mansion With 15 Toilets Still Draws Nyet From Greenwichers [WSJ]