From the Editor: Welcome Home

There is a house in stamford that always stops me on my tracks when I drive by. I could be thinking about a million things, but each time I approach, I can’t help slowing down to admire my view from the road. This home is always pristine in its proportion and color scheme, elegant amid its lush landscaping. No detail is ever spared to make its curb appeal tasteful and inviting. So when I began to plan our curb appeal cover feature (pg. 45), I knew I’d reach out to these homeowners to be part of the project. Now you too can see what I gaze at almost every day.

The other homes were discovered by word of mouth. Realtors and friends e-mailed me addresses for future drive-bys. I clocked many miles looking for that view. I saw a number of beautiful homes out there, to be sure, but only if I felt compelled to pull over for a closer look, even return for a second glance, did I know I had found something truly special that had to be shared with others besides lucky neighbors.

Realtors will tell you that traffic-stopping curb appeal will help sell your home. This is especially true these days, given how we continue to face challenges recuperating from the housing collapse. But as we report in our state of real estate feature (pg. 64), the market is shifting, and in Stamford we are starting to see modest signs of activity.

Looking into how the market fared in 2012 contrasts with how much the city has changed since 1945, when a talent agent named Fred Robbins founded the Citizen of the Year Award in an effort to spotlight good works on the home front. In this issue we looked into the history of the award, and how each honoree personifies local concerns of the day, from poverty and affordable housing to desegregation, access to health care and the arts. The list of winners over the years certainly reads like a who’s who of names but it also tells us that there is always room for making things better and people willing to help.

On a final note, I call your attention to changes to our Town Talk: a new Eat Street food and drink column; Shelf Indulgence, covering book news and reading suggestions; and Window Shopping, where Market Editor Carisha Swanson will cover store openings, events and deals. Together these will not only bring you more of what’s on our radar but also celebrate the people and places that make Stamford the vibrant urban center it is for all of us.