Wednesday’s Historic District Commission meeting featured an application originating from First Selectman Fred Camillo’s Office to put an illuminated water fountain and statue of former President George HW Bush in Memorial Plaza Park, the small triangular park outside the historic US Post Office building.
The HDC was asked by the Planning & Zoning commission to review the proposal for an advisory opinion.
Back in 2022, when DPW first proposed changes to the intersection of Greenwich Ave and Arch Street, both HDC and P&Z were protective of the area’s historic aspect.
The entire Avenue is a Historic National Register District.
One HDC member, Marie Williams said at the time that the intersection, with its historic monuments, was “the soul of Greenwich.”
Also, at the time, both P&Z commissioner Peter Levy and chair Alban urged sensitivity to the Beaux Arts design architecture in the vicinity.
HDC chair Stephen Bishop, Philip Dodd, Lynn Garelick, John Nelson and Nancy Burke. Feb 12, 2025
First Selectman Fred Camillo shared the genesis of the idea for a fountain and statue in the memorial plaza outside the historic post office building on Greenwich Ave. Feb 12, 2025 Photo: Leslie Yager
At Wednesday’s HDC meeting, landscape architect John Conte of Conte & Conte, presented the plans to the commission.
He said the full size Bush statue would be 9 ft tall overall, and 5 ft wide at the base.
He described the fountain as a “spillover granite recirculating fountain” placed a few feet back from the existing sidewalk and set inside a low boxwood hedge.
“There would be motion and a little bit of sound from the water trickling over,” Conte said.
The statute would be behind the fountain, between two existing Maple trees which would be trimmed to form a canopy, similar to the treatment of the Colonel Bolling statue across Arch Street.
Rendering shared at HDC meeting. Feb 12, 2025 The proposed statue would be bronze with a granite backdrop. The fountain would also be granite.
The agenda referred to the addition of 10 new trees, but Mr. Conte said that was not the case, and that there were already 12 trees in the park, which is maintained by Restoration Hardware who also change the flowers every year.
Conte said there would be an inscribed plaque at the statue’s base. “It would basically be ‘George HW Bush,’ the years he lived, and his service to the country – very discreetly,” Conte said.
Camillo said the project was one he had envisioned since taking office.
“I thought going down there and seeing this, especially at night when it’s lit up and it’s not very high – what a beautiful sight to enhance what is ‘Veterans Plaza Park,'” Camillo said, adding that the park had been dedicated back in 1927.
Camillo said his idea was for a rededication of the park to all veterans, and that both Peter Malkin, who owns the building, and the tenant, Restoration Hardware loved the idea.
“Scott Frantz came up with the idea of a statue to George HW Bush,” Camillo said, noting that President Bush spent the first 18 years of his life in Greenwich and had been the youngest fighter pilot in World War II flying 58 combat missions. Later, he served as a UN Ambassador, US Vice President and ultimately 41st President of the United States.
Camillo said the idea of the statue and fountain was timely in the context of plans for a rededication of the park to all veterans.
He acknowledged that with the current politically charged climate he anticipated some peoiple might have an issue with the proposal, but everything he had heard to date had been positive, including from Democrats.
“It marries what we’re trying to do, which is to enhance an area dedicated to the memory of our veterans, but also, it’s Greenwich Avenue,” Camillo said. “It just fits there and it’s crying out for a little bit of enhancement.”
Camillo acknowledged the town recently approved a dark skies ordinance, but noted the illuminated fountain would be low and wouldn’t interfere with neighbors.
“It would be kind of striking to see this, especially at night,” he said. “The idea was to put in something that would catch your eye.”
Mr. Conte said the statute itself would have “low accent lighting,” not uplighting.
HDC member Anne Alexander said the proposed fountain and statute felt “squished.”
“I don’t know if it’s possible to give him a little more space and moving him back toward Restoration Hardware?” Ms Alexander suggested.
Mr. Conte said a lot of thought had gone into placement of the statue, and moving the statue back toward RH would compete with the obelisk.
HDC member Jenny Larkin said she was concerned the statue was brown and the other monuments were white.
During public comment, Scott Frantz said a sculptor had yet to be selected.
Camillo said the project would be privately funded.
Mr. Frantz said he had spoken to the Bush family who were overjoyed that the town was considering the statute.
“And by the way, (they said), ‘Dad would not accept this. If dad was alive he would say absolutely no statues of me. I don’t like broccoli and I don’t like statues,'” Frantz said.
HDC member Phillip Dodd suggested turning the statue to turn and face into the park and obelisk, possibly moving the statue inward as a sign or ‘salute’ to the veterans, or as a sign of respect, and leaving the fountain in place as proposed.
Camillo and Conte pointed out that most people see the triangular park from their cars as they drive past, and the idea was to draw their attention to the statue and fountain.
Public Comment
During public comments, David Wold suggested the statue would be better situated by the World War II monument further up Greenwich Avenue.
“Why on earth is a man born five years after the plaza park (was built) – Why isn’t he with his World War II partners?” Wold asked. George HW Bush was born on June 12, 1924, five years after World War I ended.
Wold said the memorial plaza park had been dedicated to those who served in “the World War,” referring to the words at the base of the obelisk: “In honor of the men and women of Greenwich who served in The World War.”
The Monument on the Havemeyer property refers to men from Greenwich who made the supreme sacrifice in World War II, Korea and Vietnam and there is a marker there that lists the names of people from Greenwich who gave their lives in World War II.
Cheryl Moss said she hadn’t anticipated liking the fountain but thought it would be beautiful.
“I just feel like with the statue it makes it a bit too much,” Moss said. “I don’t know if there’s another spot that would be more appropriate – in town – Bruce Park?”
Camillo said since they plan to rededicate the park to all veterans, it made sense to put the statue in the memorial plaza park.
“Putting the statue and fountain in there diminishes both of them,” Moss suggested.
Camillo disagreed and said they had explored other possible locations for the statue, including the GCDS campus but had been told by Adam Rhodie there already was something there.
Camillo said initially his idea was for a taller fountain.
“It wasn’t gaudy or anything. It was a little higher, and I thought, something to really catch your eye, but that would have taken away from the statue,” Camillo said. “When you’re driving down there, especially at night, he’ll be lit up. What a beautiful spot, in the central part of Greenwich, in the middle of our business district, where people are going to dine, especially at night, lit up. It will be a draw and kind of liven up the Avenue a little bit.”
Next Steps
The HDC asked for a site visit and Mr. Conte and Mr. Camillo agreed that was a good idea. Technically that visit is required to be a public meeting.
After review by the HDC, the application will be reviewed in the context of zoning code and the POCD by P&Z, and gift acceptance would be at the RTM level.
George HW Bush statute in Texas that landscape architect John Conte described as “an inspirational piece” for the one being considered in the triangular park in front of the historic post office building.
Monument dedicated to those who lost their lives in World War II, in front of the Havemeyer building on Greenwich Ave. Photo: Leslie Yager
Scarsdale Inquirer, Volume 3, Number 8. December 1921. According to a 1921 article in Scarsdale Inquirer, the “modern sanitary thirst-quencher,” with its graceful pedestal, was designed by George Wharton Edwards and Joseph Howland Hunt of Greenwich.
Inscription on monument reads: “In honor of the men and women of Greenwich who served in The World War.” July 28, 2023 Photo: Leslie Yager
The original fountain was donated by the Woman’s Club of Greenwich whose leader Mrs. C.D. Lanier was related to R.C. Bolling. The fountain was designed by George Wharton Edwards.
Silhouette of water fountain at the intersection of Greenwich Ave and Arch Street. July 28, 2023 Photo: Leslie Yager
View from north of triangle in front of the former post office on Greenwich Ave. July 28, 2023 Photo: Leslie Yager
This article was updated with historic post card to provide additional information on the original water fountain by the War Memorial.
See also:
These Are the Steps To Approving a Statue of George HW Bush on Greenwich Ave Nov 2024
HDC Feedback on Havemeyer/Arch Bumpout: Respect ‘The Soul of Greenwich’June 2022
First Selectman Proposes Illuminated Fountains in Triangle outside Former Post Office July 2023
Greenwich’s War Monuments Receive TLC from Volunteers in Time for Memorial Day May 2014