Donors Upset About Removal of Downtown Memorial Benches
Wooden benches are being replaced with new metal ones as part of downtown revamp.
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Benches are being replaced throughout downtown Northville, but some residents aren’t taking it sitting down.
Relatives of those honored with plaques on the city’s old, wooden benches are upset those plaques are missing from the new, metal replacements.
“This was grandpa’s bench and for years our family took a lot of pride in being able to come downtown and sit there,” Northville resident Connie Conder said.
The original benches were installed in 1978 and are gradually being replaced due to wear and tear.
“After 33 years, they’ve become pretty worn,” City Manager Patrick Sullivan said.
The city has placed the old benches and plaques in storage, Sullivan said, and their fate hasn’t been decided.
“The benches could be made available to the families,” said Downtown Development Director Lori Ward.
Benches could also be placed in city parks, Ward said, or given to a group such as the fire department’s Young Explorers program to sell as a fund-raiser. Honorees names will likely be incorporated in some new city honor, she added, such as a large downtown plaque.
“We’re still in the discussion stage on this, “Ward said.
Plaques have been removed, Ward said, because the donations were made to help purchase the old benches, not the new $1,750-per-bench replacements.
“Those donations were made for the benches that are being replaced,” she said. “Some of the old benches also had a cutout space for the plaques and the new ones don’t have them.”
Northville resident Kathleen Kaiser said her family made an estimated $800 donation to honor her parents on their 40th wedding anniversary. She said she wouldn’t mind having the bench - which once stood outside Tirami Su, a popular downtown restaurant - but believes the plaques should be placed somewhere on the new benches.
“You make a donation to the city thinking it’s going to be for something that lasts,” Kaiser said. “Then, after 10 years or so, the city can tell you they don’t want it anymore. It doesn’t seem right.”
Conder’s said her family donated $550 to the city to honor her father-in-law, the late John Conder Sr. He was ultimately honored on two benches, Conder said, one on Center Street the other on Main Street.
Uncertainty over the benches and plaques has been stressful, both women said.
“We really haven’t gotten any information on this,” Kaiser said.
Added Conder: “I love Northville. I don’t want to get a lawyer. I just want to know what’s going on.”
Ward said the city and DDA are compiling names of donors to contact them about plans for the benches and plaques. The DDA and city are implementing a new downtown streetscape plan to update everything from the benches, to trees to trash receptacles.
Work is ongoing with up to a dozen replacement benches to be added this summer, Ward said.
In This article
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City of Northville
215 W Main St, Northville, MI -
Tirami Su
146 Maincentre, Northville, MI
Denise Nash
11:01 am on Thursday, June 2, 2011
I think everyone can agree that the old benches need replacing. However, it's a substantial amount of money that these people donated, and I don't blame them for being angry. Perhaps the plaques can be put in cement somewhere downtown? If we can put a plaque in cement for Laurie Mars, we can do it for these folks.
andrea
5:33 pm on Thursday, June 2, 2011
Hi Wayne, can you let me know if this got printed in the Northville Record or just the blog. I'm thinking there will be some feedback if you printed in the paper. Please let us know. Thank you. Andy (Conder) Bridges
Nancy Kelsey
7:03 pm on Thursday, June 2, 2011
Hi Andrea. We're Northville Patch. We are not affiliated with any print newspaper.
Kathleen Philo
7:10 pm on Thursday, June 2, 2011
We were mentioned in the article (Kaiser). We bought our bench in 2000 for my parents 40th Wedding Anniversary. If the city had maintained these benches every year (seal and stain), they would still be fine. We have had wood Adirondack chairs and tables at our house for many, many years and they are still in great condition due to proper care!! It makes you think about donating again to the city for something else. Who knows, in 10 years, the next "donation" could be eliminated for something "newer or better". If they do buy new benches, the exsiting plaques should be used on the new benches! It is not the donor's fault that the city failed to maintain the existing benches. I would have been glad to seal and stain every year!
EBC
7:54 am on Friday, June 3, 2011
Then why didn't you seal and stain your bench every year? Instead of sitting by (pun intended) and watching the bench deteriorate. Or at least report to the city years ago that the benches were looking run down and see if anything could be done about it. Being proactive instead of reactive might have saved your donation.
John E. Conder
9:02 pm on Thursday, June 2, 2011
I have called City Hall several times to four different people. The Mayor did ask the City Manager to call me which he did late last Friday. A member of the DDA board called me today and told me there was never any plans to remove the benches. This is after the City Manager told me there were plans in the works. This is all hush, hush. Now the s... has hit the fan and we simply do not know what is going on. Who is telling the truth and the DDA themselves have not responded to my phone calls placed May 23 and 24. Not only the DDA but the DPW, the Northville Record. Courtesy is neglected at City Hall, save for the City Clerk who returned a message I left with Mr. Sullivan who in turn did not return my call. I love Northville. This is breaking my heart.
Kathleen Philo
8:16 am on Friday, June 3, 2011
In response to EBC, at the time of purchase, we were told the benches would be maintained by the city. If they would have let us, we WOULD have stained and sealed them!
John E. Conder
10:15 am on Friday, June 3, 2011
To EBC: We also were under the impression that the City would maintain the benches. One of our benchs was repaired by the city not too long ago. I really do not think it was in "bad" shape today. Connie Conder
Denise Nash
12:34 pm on Friday, June 3, 2011
Also to EBC: Is this what it comes down to? What if everyone moved to Toledo - is their donation in memory to a loved one less valued in that case? Who is to maintain the bench then?
I see the DDA is looking for people to volunteer to sweep up cigarettes off the streets downtown and give directions to "tourists", next will they be handing resident volunteers sandpaper and paintbrushes?
Excuse me but I will pay more in taxes so I don't have to maintain my own city!