Everyday the Library Trustees and staff receive inquiries about when we are going to move forward with the new library building in the Lawrence Station parking lot.

The brief answer is that we would like to move forward, but are still waiting for an affirmative response by the Board of Trustees of the Village of Lawrence before we can take the next steps. This is basically the same response we have provided since May 2005 when the present concept was put forward.

By way of background, in May 2005 we first proposed a new library to be built in part of the Lawrence Station parking lot. We proposed that the Village agree to sell to the Library a parcel of land with a footprint of approximately 150’ by 60’ at a location just north of Zion Park, in the area between the park and the railroad tracks. The land would be sold for fair market value. The Library would then build a new facility on the site. In that regard, we had conversations with the Dormitory Authority of the State of New York, which led us to conclude that financing for such a building was feasible. (Any such plans, of course, would require approval by the taxpayers.)

We thought this was a “win-win” proposal. For the Library community, including the Village of Lawrence, it would provide a new, larger, state of the art facility and serve as a communal meeting place. From the Village’s perspective, it would retain the Library’s presence in the Village, while leaving Zion Park unchanged, with no loss of footage, trees or available recreational areas and would increase parking spaces in the Lawrence station parking lot by re-marking the lot and utilizing some available space, which is currently a weed strewn lot. Also, the Village would receive consideration for the sale of the land and the existing library site, when sold, could return to the tax rolls.

We have discussed this proposal with the Village Trustees on several occasions, including two meetings of the Village’s Board of Trustees, two meetings with a committee established by the Village’s Board of Trustees, and several informal conversations between Village Trustees and Library Trustees. We have responded to all requests by Village Trustees, including requests for an artist’s rendering, an appraisal of the land by a licensed, independent appraiser, a traffic study by an engineering firm, and questions raised by a neighboring cooperative. There are no requests or questions that have not been addressed.

Many of the Village Trustees have supported the concept of a new Library for the community. However, with respect to the proposed site, we have been unable to receive a more definitive response.

We would like the Village Trustees to sit down with us to negotiate in good faith for the sale of the parcel. If, for some reason, the Village Trustees do not think this is a good idea for the Village, then we request that they inform us and the entire community of their decision, so the Library can move of this holding pattern we have been in for 4 years.

As your Library Trustees, we would obviously like to proceed with the proposed plan as described above, as we think it is in the best interest of all concern. If this is not feasible, we will have to consider other alternatives, although we do not want to expend additional resources planning for alternatives at the present time.

We hope this has answered your questions about “when we are going to move forward with the new library building in the Lawrence Station parking lot.” And what the Library Trustees have been doing in an effort to provide the community with an enhanced facility.

Sincerely yours,

Trustees of the Peninsula Public Library