Tanya Gailus
Thank you. On my part, I thought the visitor center at Walden could have been smaller, if at all needed in the first place. It is a pleasant structure on its own, but there was too much tree loss to accommodate it- and in that sense, not in the spirit of the place. Separately, related to your comment, when there are human guides to lead visitors or to be available for information, the 'meaning' of a place is brought to the present time. I agree that screen interactions, while they can be informative, can also push the significance of the place into a matter of the past - ironically.

I am aware of that proposal, and some of the residents’ concerns, so that did come to mind. Preservation is one thing, but adding technology and gimmicks to make money on tourists is another. The historical properties have clearly stood the test of time on their own merit. It’s somewhat insulting to Concord’s illustrious history ( and to modern day people) to suggest tourists won’t come to these properties without flashing screens and interactive technology because they have done so for many years. I’m not fully aware of the details of the Manse Visitors Center plans. In theory, a gathering space for presenters and students sounds appealing on its own, but the structure would need to blend in with its surroundings as not to change the vibe of the home.

Bill Kemeza
Concord Center, seems to be losing its vitality as shops close.

A significant way to address this is to make the center itself an experience. Walking, lingering, having commodious places to sit, to eat, to talk. Imagine places where our restaurants could have tables outside. Our stores could have displays where folks could take their time.

Consider widening the sidewalks on the Milldam and Walden street by getting rid of street parking. With signage, direct cars to our parking lots (and negotiate more spaces from private sources) to offset the loss of on-street parking.

The current traffic lanes would remain.

Lori Pazaris
We need to support businesses that provide for the health and well being of Concord residents and promote sustainability. Is the tax base the reason why senior town management seems to sometime favor business over residents? Mail ordering is impacting retail business everywhere. Yes creativity, ensuring that the town lives within its means, and willingness of town government to work with public and not just private interests is critical. Has town management considered sending a survey to local businesses and residents to assess, for example, which businesses are thriving, which businesses residents support the most, and to determine which business will thrive long-term, etc? Civic Moxie asks similar questions here, but not all residents are participating.

Bob Andrews
I think that one of the best ways for Concord to honor its history and culture is to follow in the steps of the transcendentalist writers and activists who were among its earliest community leaders. People like Thoreau and Emerson were students of the environment and nature; and they honored and respected it. They believed and preached that God was in nature. If they were alive today they would undoubtedly be advocates for applying the Town's four sustainability principles and in the APA sustainability standards which inspire this planning process to everything we do. Alongside of embracing technical sustainability measures such as solar energy, we need to put more emphasis on preserving nature. We need to put a halt to a relentless extinction of biological species that accompanies exploitation of nature. We need to return the soil beneath our feet to its natural state so that it will sequester carbon and grow good, nutritious food .We are doing some of this but sometimes preservation of nature calls for putting up something in a historical district that is not what is considered consistent with the historical monuments and houses. If we are to honor our past, we cannot just copy the past. We must act in the spirit of our forebears & do what they would do if they were alive today.

Restrict proposals for modern advances to enhance historic properties.