NEW HANOVER COUNTY — The colorful, handmade bus benches installed by the Wilmington Democratic Socialists of America are facing an uncertain future as Wave Transit moves toward a policy that would favor financial donations over community-built amenities. Though board members of Cape Fear Public Transportation Authority also pressed on ways for people to donate items, whether trash cans or something else.
The Cape Fear Public Transportation Authority will hear two proposals from Wave Director Mark Hairr in September: “Adopt a Stop” and an “Adopt-an-Amenity” program. However, if the program doesn’t allow a group or organization to donate physical benches, it could leave the Democratic Socialists of America’s benches closer to being out of commission.
At Wave Transit’s Thursday meeting, council member Salette Andrews introduced “Adopt a Stop” program that would allow community members to upkeep bus stops by cleaning up litter, and enable residents to report conditions or issues with their stop to Wave.
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Hairr also brought forth the “Adopt-an-Amenity” program, stating it would welcome financial donations in any amount to Wave to help the transit authority buy benches.
Hairr mentioned physical benches would not be accepted unless from a licensed engineering firm, who could donate their services and either install it themselves or hire a contractor to. Of course, this would come with approval from either the city or the North Carolina Department of Transportation.
“It wouldn’t be Mike and me showing up on Saturday afternoon donating our time and effort in what we leave behind,” New Hanover County Manager and Cape Fear Public Transportation Authority Chair Chris Coudriet clarified.
He was referring to fellow board member Mike Kozlosky, who is the executive director of the Wilmington Urban Area Metropolitan Planning Organization.
Out of Wave’s 400 bus stops, nearly a fourth have amenities. According to Wave, the cost for their bus stop benches is $5,000 or $20,000 for a shelter and bench.
Wave put out a request for proposals to bring amenities to 38 bus stops on its routes; 19 are just benches and the rest include shelters. Hairr added the request for the installation ended and he expects to bring a contract for the amenities for board approval in September.
The amenities will be placed in phases in order to “fast-track” installations at stops with the most need. Factors that play into the decision-making process include how many people get on or off a stop, destinations around the stop and conditions of the site, like whether or not it has a sidewalk.
According to Hairr, in 2015 there was a proposal to the Cape Fear Public Transit Authority for an amenity donation program, which required an engineering firm to design the amenity, though no action was ever taken to pass it. However, a project was conducted around that time by the Eagle Scouts, who built a bench on top of a concrete pad on Medical Center Drive after getting an encroachment agreement approved by the City of Wilmington. Wave later assumed ownership of the bench.
The DSA did not seek city permission nor an encroachment agreement before placing its benches, which was part of the issue, with them being placed at the stops.
“In talking with our attorney, the adopted amenity program and that [Eagles Scout] plan may not hold weight of an official adopted policy, but it was used in terms of this particular project,” Hairr said.
He then added: “We are open to an adopted amenity program as a staff, but we think that the provisions that are in the existing one need to be updated and revised.”
Hairr is considering bringing back the 2015 proposal and updating it. Some changes may include the addition of bike racks and adding more specifics to the engineering and design process. The 2015 plans also had Wave assuming ownership of the benches in order to maintain them moving forward.
However, Hairr made clear the preferred path forward would be financial donations rather than amenity donations. Otherwise, Wave would need to review the bench materials to ensure it meets code, including whether the amenity was sturdy, would not deteriorate or cause liability issues in the event of a storm or strong winds.
If the Wave Transit board decides against a donation program, that would leave the DSA’s benches, currently sitting in the backyards of its members, without a home.
“I’m still trying to be optimistic that something can be worked on between now and the next board meeting,” head of DSA’s mutual aid committee, Ty L, told Port City Daily Thursday.
Most board members asked Hairr questions to clarify what the programs would look like or entail what factors Wave sought when placing amenities. New Hanover County Commissioner Stephanie Walker specifically wanted to ensure the public understood what would be required of them for donations and understand the timeline of both installing the amenities and the proposal approval.
“My hope is we can figure out how to get the process down that if people do want to donate benches that fit our standards, they can do that and help the community,” Walker told Port City Daily.
Councilmember Salette Andrews wanted to ensure donations didn’t have to be for the full cost of a bench — $5,000.
“They could take a $100 donation and that is earmarked so that once there’s enough — $5 here, $100 there, then hey, you’ve contributed to a bench,” Andrews said. “You helped improve it, but you’re not dissuaded from giving if you’re not able to give the full amount.”
Ty spoke before the board during public comment Thursday.
“DSA benches are cheaper and faster than what Wave and the city can provide,” he said.
The 30 benches that were built, painted and placed by the DSA at Wave stops are made with repurposed scrap wood from the landfill and cost the group about a dollar per bench to build in total so far.
However, he also noted the benches were always supposed to be temporary.
“The permanent Wave structures are way better than what we can provide with the ability and finances we have able,” Ty said.
The benches, which have messages on them like “No rent for slumlords” and “Fruits of community labor,” were first placed around town in 2025. In early August 2026, the benches were removed and stored by the North Carolina Department of Transportation and the City of Wilmington. This came after complaints were sent to the city, calling for their removal due to what many considered political messaging and the benches being an advertisement for the Democratic Socialists of America.
The benches also gained notoriety further when the Cape Fear Proud Boys painted over one. This led Commissioner Dane Scalise to complain to the NCDOT about the county stepping in to take action to remove the unauthorized benches. In June and July, the city, WAVE and DSA were in talks about what was needed to come into compliance and how to do so. DSA hoped to be able to keep the benches at the bus stops and preserve the character of the benches.
Ty approached the transportation board during public comment Thursday to express interest in continued communication. He said some of DSA’s members, who are also career engineers, have been coming up with solutions to keeping the benches on the ground in the event of a storm. For instance, a concrete pad may not be feasible for organizations like the DSA, so an alternative was suggested, such as a U-shaped stake in the ground to hold the benches down.
He added the group is willing to paint over the bus benches to something more neutral, though he wanted to see the vibrant colors preserved if possible.
“Many of them just had doodles from children that were too young to even write words,” Ty explained, noting only two benches had political messaging. “However, in the spirit of making the best path forward, we’ve agreed internally that the benches are more important than a couple of slogans advocating for better housing.”
Only two people spoke at the meeting, the other was Tracy Bannan, a naysayer who wanted to put her own benches up at stops but was told she couldn’t by the city. She called the city’s willingness to work with the DSA and not her a “hypocrisy.”
Four comments came in online, including from two other DSA members and another resident, Adam White.
“The benches that the DSA were building were a basically free resource to our community, spread a lot of joy, community support, and have always made me smile when I see them around town,” White wrote. “Please work with the DSA to help provide bus stop benches around town while the city finds the funds to build more.”
The next board meeting will take place Sept. 24, where the proposed bus stop programs will be presented for a vote.
As for the DSA, Ty said he isn’t sure what the group’s next steps will be. They have 40 benches currently in stasis, excluding the one stolen by the Cape Fear Proud Boys but including the ones removed by the North Carolina Department of Transportation and the City of Wilmington. Ty said the group is picking up NCDOT benches Friday. Though the DSA doesn’t plan to continue building new benches, he hopes to find a use for them.
“I’m hopeful to meet with Mark and some city engineers to work out a solution that encompasses actual community participation,” Ty said.
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