HDC approves bench style for Concord bench program; locations continued for refinement

The Historic Districts Commission on Oct. 30 approved a bench style the Town of Concord proposes for a multi-site streetscape program, while agreeing to continue review of the precise locations within the historic districts.

Mimi Grainy, the town’s economic vitality manager, presented a grant-funded program (Massachusetts Office of Travel & Tourism) to install benches to improve pedestrian circulation between Thoreau Depot, Concord Center and Monument Square. Grainy presented two vendor options for a 6-foot teak bench; one vendor (Bairo Tyre) was more affordable but back-ordered 18 months, while another vendor (Country Casual Teak) matched an existing bench near the library. Grainy said the grant is for 17 benches and that site suitability and property-owner agreements will determine the final count.

Commissioners expressed support for the bench style but were concerned about placing modern wooden benches immediately adjacent to established commemorative granite benches. The commission requested Grainy identify and submit the up-to-12 candidate locations in the historic district for separate review so commissioners could consider spacing and context; Grainy agreed to return in three weeks with a refined list and to negotiate with property owners. Commissioners approved the bench style by motion and also voted to continue review of historic-district locations.