Historical Commission backs cafe plan for old Collins Market building

WAYLAND -- September 10, 2025, Wayland Historical Commission endorses cafe plan for the historic Collins Market building. The commission voted 7-0 on Sept. 10 to send a letter supporting buyer Kirstyn Lipson's proposal to convert 21 Cochituate Road into a boutique cafe and bistro called Townhouse, a nod to the building's 19th-century role as the town's first non-meetinghouse town building. Member Ann Gordon said she liked that Lipson's vision was "to make it a community space once again"; member Tonya Largy voted yes but added, "I just hope she follows through on what she says." The Zoning Board of Appeals continued Lipson's special-use-permit hearing the previous night to review parking-relief provisions. Separately, members heard that a joint Wayland-Sudbury public forum Oct. 1 will address replacing Sherman's Bridge decking at an estimated $1.6 million split between the towns, and that cemetery restoration by contractor Epic stands at just 30 percent complete against a $237,000 contract.