Plans For George H.W. Bush Statue Submitted To Greenwich Planning & Zoning

GREENWICH, CT — Plans to erect a bronze statue for former Greenwich resident and President George H.W. Bush have been submitted to the Planning & Zoning Commission for consideration.

The Greenwich Historic District Commission last month unanimously voted to endorse the proposed location for the statue at 290 Greenwich Ave., the property for the Havemeyer Building which currently houses the town's Board of Education. The commission also endorsed the proposed design.

"As we move closer to the final approval for the placement of a fitting tribute to Greenwich’s own George H.W. Bush, I want to thank everybody who has reached out in support of this worthwhile endeavor and I will continue to work with town officials to finally realize this long overdue honor," First Selectman Fred Camillo told Patch Monday.

The initial location for the statue was in Veterans Plaza Park, the area in front of Restoration Hardware off Greenwich Avenue and Arch Street. The HDC rejected those plans in March, saying the statue would take away from existing war monuments in the area.

According to documents submitted to Planning & Zoning, the statue would be located between the two monuments within the Board of Education public space, 13 feet off the public sidewalk, to allow for clear pedestrian flow.

The proposed height for the statue is 7 feet, plus a base height of 3 feet.

Documents say the materials, scale, and positioning were chosen "to blend seamlessly with Board of Education public space and Greenwich's architectural heritage."

"Subtle, focused lighting" mounted at the base of the statue is proposed to highlight the statue's features, submitted documents say, noting the angled light "avoids glare or bright illumination that might disrupt the neighborhood or park's quiet nature."

Additionally, the location would not obstruct nearby drivers' sightlines or create congestion.

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A discreet plaque on a granite backdrop, with Bush's name, birth, passing years, and a brief note on his service to the country, is also proposed, using a "classic serif font, sized for close-up reading without dominating the overall design."'

Last November, former state Sen. L. Scott Frantz (R-36) came forward and offered to cover the cost of the statue, which at the time was estimated to be between $30,000 and $45,000, with installation costs of $20,000 and lighting at $5,000.

Routine cleaning and occasional waxing would be needed to maintain the bronze statue, and submitted documents say a dedicated donor-provided fund would cover maintenance to avoid unforeseen costs to the town.

Community and veterans groups may also support upkeep, the documents say.

The statue would be located on a property that could undergo significant change in the future.

Town officials are looking to repurpose the aging Havemeyer Building. A boutique hotel was recommended for the property by an RFP Committee in May, but residents criticized the idea during a public hearing in June.

Camillo first mentioned the idea to honor Bush with a statue in June 2024.

Bush spent his formative years in Greenwich when his father, Prescott Bush, was a U.S. Senator from Connecticut.

He attended Greenwich Country Day School, and also met his wife of 73 years, the late Barbara Bush, at a dance in town.

When Bush turned 18, he enlisted in the Navy and eventually flew 58 combat missions during World War II, his official White House biography says.

During one mission over the Pacific Ocean, Bush was shot down by Japanese anti-aircraft fire and he was rescued from the water by a U.S. submarine, according to his bio. Bush was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross for bravery in action.

Bush served as the CIA director, ambassador to the United Nations and vice president before he was elected as the 41st president of the United States in 1988. He lost a re-election bid in 1992 to Bill Clinton.

Bush died on Nov. 30, 2018, at the age of 94.