I'm not going to rehash the pros and cons in this e-mail. You've heard both sides by now.
But, the letter in today's (Saturday 4/11/09) "Phoenix" from Maureen Ash asked us to inform our Councilpersons of our opinions.
It would seem to me that the cons outweigh the pros. Perhaps adding two additional floors would do the trick if obtaining the property to the north is impossible.
I believe Council has had an opportunity to peruse the letter from Brad Peck regarding the deed restrictions and constraints of over 100 years ago when the Phoenix Iron Company & Mr. Reeves transferred the land and streets to the Mayor and Borough of Phoenixville.
Legal issues may be forthcoming. Is the Borough prepared to add these expenses into the budget?
And are the citizens of Phoenixville prepared to see these costs raise their taxes?
April 11, 2009 at 5:54 AM
Anonymous said...
There are large numbers of young children on the North Side who do not have tranportation and are too young to walk to the current library site.
It would better serve the needs of Phoenixville residents if the Library opened a branch on the North Side to help these underserved children and youth than to expand a facility which has negative impacts on the neighborhood and encourages more driving.
Both the Franklin Commons and the Friendship Fire Company has been interested in working with the Library to make a North Side Children/Youth branch a reality, but have been rebuffed by the Library Board.
The 21st Century will belong to those who encourage walking and less reliance on cars. There is a large, underserved population on the North Side that would benefit greatly from the Library's assistance and the will from North Side landowers to make it affordable.
In light of these realities, I'm not seeing "caring about the community" from the Library Board; I'm seeing "build a monument to our ego/bigger is better" mindset from them instead which I find truely disappointing in those who are supposed to be pledged to increasing literacy and enhancing all members of a community.
April 11, 2009 at 5:59 AM
The Board of Directors of the Phoenixville Public Library Foundation and the Board of Trustees of the Phoenixville Public Library have been working very hard on the Library’s Concept Growth Plan to better serve the information, education and recreation needs of the Phoenixville Community. Plans include a new library addition of 22,000 square feet that will increase the size of our cramped children’s library, include a new, larger story-time room, provide a brand new dedicated space for our active teenage population, increase meeting room space for our existing community programs, enlarge the computer center to address community technology needs and the information explosion, and add space to spread out the cramped collections while allowing some room for collection growth. The renovations include an elevator and accessible restrooms. The facility would also become ADA compliant.
The goal of this renovation and expansion project is to create a much stronger and more viable information and community resource center for the Phoenixville community to be utilized by present and future generations. To facilitate dialogue throughout this process the Library Foundation has held several informational meetings with the community over the last two years. Public meetings about the Concept Growth Plan have also been held with Phoenixville Borough Council, the Phoenixville Area School District Board of School Directors, the Chester County Library System Board and the Chester County Planning Commission.
The Library believes in community building and is committed to ensuring a strong relationship with the Borough, its surrounding community and the Chester County Library System. We consistently strive to fulfill our charge of providing the best possible library services to the local Phoenixville community. It is clear that we need to expand in order to do this. To accomplish this goal, the addition needs to extend out to the property line of Reeves Park between Park Alley and Main Street. There will be a Community Development Committee Meeting at Borough Hall on Wednesday, March 25, 2009 at 6:00 PM and a Borough Council Meeting on Tuesday April 14, 2009 at 7:00PM to discuss the vacating of a very small portion of Second Avenue to enable our Concept Growth Plan to become reality. Your supportive presence at these meetings is crucial . If you cannot attend please contact your local Councilman by phone or in writing to express your support for the Library’s plans. Working together for the Library’s future will be our legacy for the next generation. Thank you!
Sincerely,
Susan Meadows, President, Library Board Maureen Ash, President, Library Foundation Board John Kelley, Executive Director
"Library Expansion Project: An Open Letter to the Phoenixville Community"
3 Comments -
Great new plan to move Phoenixville Childrens library to the Old Schuylkill School Building
March 27, 2009 at 7:22 AM
Mr. Mayor & Borough Council Members:
I'm not going to rehash the pros and cons in this e-mail. You've heard both sides by now.
But, the letter in today's (Saturday 4/11/09) "Phoenix" from Maureen Ash asked us to inform our Councilpersons of our opinions.
It would seem to me that the cons outweigh the pros. Perhaps adding two additional floors would do the trick if obtaining the property to the north is impossible.
I believe Council has had an opportunity to peruse the letter from Brad Peck regarding the deed restrictions and constraints of over 100 years ago when the Phoenix Iron Company & Mr. Reeves transferred the land and streets to the Mayor and Borough of Phoenixville.
Legal issues may be forthcoming. Is the Borough prepared to add these expenses into the budget?
And are the citizens of Phoenixville prepared to see these costs raise their taxes?
April 11, 2009 at 5:54 AM
There are large numbers of young children on the North Side who do not have tranportation and are too young to walk to the current library site.
It would better serve the needs of Phoenixville residents if the Library opened a branch on the North Side to help these underserved children and youth than to expand a facility which has negative impacts on the neighborhood and encourages more driving.
Both the Franklin Commons and the Friendship Fire Company has been interested in working with the Library to make a North Side Children/Youth branch a reality, but have been rebuffed by the Library Board.
The 21st Century will belong to those who encourage walking and less reliance on cars. There is a large, underserved population on the North Side that would benefit greatly from the Library's assistance and the will from North Side landowers to make it affordable.
In light of these realities, I'm not seeing "caring about the community" from the Library Board; I'm seeing "build a monument to our ego/bigger is better" mindset from them instead which I find truely disappointing in those who are supposed to be pledged to increasing literacy and enhancing all members of a community.
April 11, 2009 at 5:59 AM