The Chases' Mountain Estate -- Courant.com

I say we turn the Chase Mansion into a popular tourist attraction too like Gillette Castle and Heublein Tower.

The Chase family has done much for the Hartford area. They were once the premier builder of commerical property in Hartford. I believe that we should stay out of the private business of people in general and partiucally those who have contributed to the betterment of our community. There are better things to do with your printed word, i.e. what's happening to Front Street, the Nail Factory, Coltsville etc. Lets try to improve our community and laeve good people who have helped alone.Sometimes the Courant tilts at the wrong windmills.

Every time I drive past the construction taking place on Avon mountain my blood pressure rises. I only wish I had enough money to buy up all the land and preserve it from the ostentatious development currently taking place. As much as the Chase family has done for the community, the current destruction of a lovely natural landscape has caused me to wonder if Mr. Chase has taken leave of his senses. I applaud the Courant for having the courage to publicize this gaudy and destructive construction, and hope that our legislature is intelligent enough to see the benefits in saving our remaining precious natural resources. They are irreplacable, and worth much more than all the cold and tawdry mansions combined.

I say let's let people spend their money the way they want to.More cheese for all that whine???

Reading these posts I have never read so much whining. Good grief no one else is being told how they should spend their earnings, much less have their plans published multiple times by this esteemed paper.

Hey - West Hartford approved the plans and gave the permits. They'd rather chase old ladies with their dogs out of town than protect the mountain side. Now if the Chases decide to have 22 shitzus then they will be in trouble.

But who cares? The Chases should be able to spend their money the way they wish. Ultimately that house will provide tax revenue for the town and has also provided jobs for workmen. I can't wait to see what politicians will be clamoring for a chance to hold their next fundraiser up at the Chase estate. They do, afterall support the Dems in this town. Hey aren't the Dems the ones against this type of excess? Can't imagine why the Chase family would support Dems when all the Dems want to do is tax them out of oblivion.

So What wrote:

Hey - West Hartford approved the plans and gave the permits. They'd rather chase old ladies with their dogs out of town than protect the mountain side. Now if the Chases decide to have 22 shitzus then they will be in trouble.

That is the core of the underlying problem.

How many variances were granted for this project by the town but denied to the woman with the dogs.

All we want is a level playing field not one where the town goes after those that can't afford to fight back

OK. Enough already. As a friend of Arnold and Sandy Chase, I am appalled at what now appears to be some type of veiled vendetta against one of this area’s most respected and philanthropic families. As a former journalist, I can understand the curiosity surrounding the construction of one of Greater Hartford’s most unique properties. But where does curiosity and the pursuit of a story stop, and public harassment begin? Two articles and an editorial? Have the tabloids made it to Hartford?

The Chase’s are building a 50,000 square foot home atop Avon Mountain. Get over it. They bought it. They didn’t steal it. They paid for it. They didn’t bribe someone to build it. In short, they are being criticized for realizing their American Dream. What’s wrong with that?

The Chase family made its fortune the old fashioned way, they earned it. They are not crooked politicians, embezzling CEOs, or overpaid celebrities. David Chase survived the Holocaust, came to this country with five dollars in his pocket, and built a media and real estate empire by educating himself, working hard, and instilling in his children and grandchildren a sense of leaving this world a better place than how they found it. For an update on how they’re doing, your crack reporting staff may want to check in with the Juvenile Diabetes Association, The American Cancer Society, Hartford Stage, The Atheneum, the Connecticut Science Center, and the National Center for Boundless Playgrounds, just to name a few. The Courant, in its infinite reportorial wisdom, saw fit to question whether a large mansion can truly be a home. My bet is that many of the organizations mentioned above will benefit as the family hosts countless affairs to raise millions more for worthy causes.

Arnold Chase has not responded publicly to this newspaper’s apparent insatiable appetite for this story, not because he isn’t angry, but because publicity, good or bad, just isn’t important. He will go about his life the way he always has… with quiet dignity, respect for the achievements of others, and a commitment to his community. The Courant reporting and editorial staff could learn a few things by his example.

Since when does West Hartford protect open spaces? A decent home with 1/2 acre of green space is very rare there already. They feel they've done their part with their reservoirs. I'm sure tax assistance was at the heart of the town's sign-off on this giant home being built. Avon put a moratorium on new home building last year, and I was glad to hear it. Hopefully, other towns follow suit. Soon.

You are correct, we should let them spend money as they see fit, wastefully or not. However, the same rights that allow them to waste their money, allow for our free speech. Or have you forgotten that? Hopefully, their work keeps several local contractors and businesses open in addition to keeping the Hartford area habitable. I will also allow that defending a friend, as you have, is admirable. But since when does blasting on a beautiful, wooded mountainside resemble anything like 'quiet dignity'? I have to disagree with you there. That house screams 'Excess.' And thanks to all of the clearing they have done, not seeing it is quite unfortunately, not an option. So there's really nothing 'quiet' about it. Gaudy is more like it.

More simply:
These a-holes spoil the view for everyone else.

i cant beleive the COURANT is still running this story, ARNOLD CHASE can you give THE HARTFORD COURANT a few MILLION DOLLAR`S so it can fix up that DILAPIDATED BUILDING and RAGGEDY ROAD on BROAD STREET,i asurre you ARNOLD CHASE when your MANSION is finished and you look out the window toward`s HARTFORD you will see that eyesore called THE HARTFORD COURANT!

Disheartened wrote:

Every time I drive past the construction taking place on Avon mountain my blood pressure rises. I only wish I had enough money to buy up all the land and preserve it from the ostentatious development currently taking place. As much as the Chase family has done for the community, the current destruction of a lovely natural landscape has caused me to wonder if Mr. Chase has taken leave of his senses. I applaud the Courant for having the courage to publicize this gaudy and destructive construction, and hope that our legislature is intelligent enough to see the benefits in saving our remaining precious natural resources. They are irreplacable, and worth much more than all the cold and tawdry mansions combined.

Instead of gawking at what Mr.Chase is having built on HIS land, calm yourself and pay attention to your driving or you could have an accident and injure someone . Your problem is NOSE trouble---sticking that BEAK of yours in someone else's business. I AM 100% for Mr Chase if that is what he wants. Leave him alone and the Courant will probably go belly up. Isn't it great that the Chase family HAS what YOU and all the other envious poor souls wish they had. DREAM on folks. Have a great day unless you choose otherwise!

Yo, d'man have money. Gi'm his crib!

Folks are so quick to judge those in the financial position presented by the Chase family. They earned it....they did it legally...and they should spend it the way they want. They are generous and did not break any laws.

I have no problem seeing people who work hard to achieve the American dream living the way they see fit. This family has donated millions of dollars, and can still afford to pamper themselves and reward their own family and friends for a lifetime of hard work.

There are tons of people who would love to be in their shoes, but do not have the motivation to get there. Those are the jealous people who criticize the wrong "rich" people and who spend tons of money every year on baseball, basketball, and football tickets that fuel a system of overpaid atheletes who live even more "excessively" because they know how to throw or bounce a ball. What's the difference if a large home is built on Avon Mountain or in Los Angeles....everyone is guilty of supporting excess in one form or another. So....get over it and let them spend their money how they see fit and stop exploiting them for something that was done legally from the very beginning.

As for the headline--that should read:

Chase's

Leave it to the Hartford Courant to not know where to put an apostrophe.

jenny wrote:

As for the headline--that should read:
Chase's
Leave it to the Hartford Courant to not know where to put an apostrophe.

Wrong. It's plural.

Big deal, the guy donates a pittance to UCONN, etc. His house is repulsive, the destruction of the land repulsive, his refusal to talk to the press repulsive, and the fact that he came here as an immigrant with $5, and spends that amount on a home is REPULSIVE. May he live in fear of the repercussions of his bizarre need for attention.

What is he trying to prove? Wouldn't it be more rewarding to preserve and donate the land to the State of Ct? Sad, when you have so much money and you are so bored to death, that the only happiness you seek is owning the biggest House in CT.

I myself read this from Pennsylvania...I think it is absolutely wonderful that this can be done. Knock off your petty crap. "We" made this country and that is why people come here...it is the American Dream and God Bless him for living it...

Inherited wealth, quickly spent.
How long a wait till the town auctions it off for back taxes?
Next recession I'll bet.