West Concord to survey residents about building’s future, vacant council seat filled

West Concord residents will get a chance to tell the West Concord City Council what they would do with the old hardware store building on Main Street.
The city bought the building last summer, a year after the hardware store closed.
The city has listed the building for sale but has also indicated it would be open to other options. The building was on the market for a year after the hardware store closed.
Donna Fitzgerald approached the Council at the last council meeting asking that the city consider surveying residents about their wishes.
“I’m here,” Fitzgerald said, “because I believe there should be an opportunity for citizens to share their opinions on 207 Main St.”
The survey she presented to the council asks two questions.
First, it asks, “Which option would you support with respect to the future of 207 West Main Street (prior hardware store).
The two choices for the answer are “City should hold on to 207 West Main Street until it is purchased by a private owner or business” or “City should renovate 207 West Main Street to be a community center. Renovation could include a kitchen, small meeting rooms and/or a large meeting-dining hall.”
The second question asks “If 207 West Main Street were sold to a private owner or business, which of the following would you support:”
The three choices for answers include “Build a community center on the city owned lot adjacent to the Municipal Liquor Store,” “Demolish the current American Legion Hall and build a community center on that site” or “Do not support building a new community center.”