On Sunday afternoon, a meeting was held at the Phoenixville Library to discuss plans for its expansion. The plan calls for an expansion across 2nd Street.
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The proposal puts priority on “protecting and enhancing the 1903 Carnegie library building,” especially in “retaining the reading room as a real reading room,” Carnevale said; on a larger children’s library, and space for young adult readers; on new dedicated space for public meetings, for materials collection increases and computer information access, and for staff services, though, Deveney said, the proposal as it stands “would require no increase in current staff.”
Deveney granted, however, that a larger facility would entail larger utilities bills. “But the proposal also provides for renovation of some utilities, and additions of new, more efficient equipment,” he said.
The concept plan proposes a three-floor addition to the Carnegie building, new construction that will also incorporate renovation of the library’s 1987 addition. “We promise you we will get rid of the ‘Taco Bell’ look,” Carnevale said.
A new main entrance will be placed off an entry plaza at Main Street on what is now Second Avenue. Parking is proposed diagonally (“a traffic-calming device,” Carnevale said) on sections of Main Street.
With the closing of Second Avenue, traffic would remain two-way only from Starr to B Streets, run one-way west to the library at Park Alley and one-way north on Park.
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For more, see the article in today's Phoenix.
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The proposal puts priority on “protecting and enhancing the 1903 Carnegie library building,” especially in “retaining the reading room as a real reading room,” Carnevale said; on a larger children’s library, and space for young adult readers; on new dedicated space for public meetings, for materials collection increases and computer information access, and for staff services, though, Deveney said, the proposal as it stands “would require no increase in current staff.”
Deveney granted, however, that a larger facility would entail larger utilities bills. “But the proposal also provides for renovation of some utilities, and additions of new, more efficient equipment,” he said.
The concept plan proposes a three-floor addition to the Carnegie building, new construction that will also incorporate renovation of the library’s 1987 addition. “We promise you we will get rid of the ‘Taco Bell’ look,” Carnevale said.
A new main entrance will be placed off an entry plaza at Main Street on what is now Second Avenue. Parking is proposed diagonally (“a traffic-calming device,” Carnevale said) on sections of Main Street.
With the closing of Second Avenue, traffic would remain two-way only from Starr to B Streets, run one-way west to the library at Park Alley and one-way north on Park.
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For more, see the article in today's Phoenix.
Comments
Carnegie donated his life's worth in the hopes that generations could benefit.
This town uses and needs this Library. How are you to explain to people who do not have the means to just go purchase a book or travel a distance because things would be disrupted or changed.
This library is located in the heart of town. It would be absurd to relocate it.
It is an important part of Phoenixville that should continue as a legacy for the next generation.
Lets take out the you,me,and I and replace it with we as a community.
I sympathise with the call for a branch on the north side, though. That would seem like a valuable addition.
As far as keeping kids safe from traffic, I think proper education (of drivers, the kids, and their parents) will go much farther than randomly blocking streets.
If any other facility outgrows it's building it moves, why hasn't anyone mentioned that it should just move? It has become a major problem not a friendly neighbor.
Just last week coming home I saw two kids almost get hit on Main Street by the library. I'm suprised there aren't skid marks on the street. You don't put a building that big in an area where kids are walking from beyond Main to the park to play or whatever. Someone will get killed.
They can also not do anything to that building and make satellite branches in any of the vacant or soon to be vacant buildings like Friendship Fire Co.
I don't like it when someone tries to push something on us when they don't consider anything else than one idea.
Really think about silly outrageous ideas before we all have to live with a big problem.
Be sensible people this plan causes harm.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L3LGvQltM3o
Lower property values? Yeah, living right next to a great library with virtually private park frontage will really cause values to plummet.
I do apologize for being snarky. It isn't charitable, and I am a real let's get along cat.
It just seems that every time we want to improve something in this town we get paralyzed by NIMBYism, while huge and profitable development gets done in a comparative eyeblink elsewhere.
See what happens when no consideration is given to the surrounding areas on a controversial project? People in the community take sides and start fighting. Yes, the plan is not the best possible plan and it is harmful.
This is the plan of action to stop the Phoenixville Library from closing Second Avenue.
We believe the library should expand. We support it to expand. We only do not wish for Second Avenue to be closed and /or Reeves Park to be built on.
1) Second Avenue is a vital road used by local people traveling home from shopping.
2) The east/west and vice-versa traffic will not be stopped it will only be more concentrated onto the other avenues.
3) Park Alley behind the library cannot handle any volume of traffic.
4) Second Avenue is the quickest way for the Ambulance to travel from its station on West Bridge Street to the homes on the east side of Starr Street.
5) The traffic that will be shifted to Third Avenue will face a much more difficult time entering Starr Street because of the blind spot on the hill.
6) When not if the Library needs to expand in 10 or 20 years where will the go next.
There are many government organizations that must be informed of our displeasure to close Second Avenue and / or build on Reeves Park. We must contact all members of these organizations. Remember when government organizations are involved the loudest wheels get the oil.
Don’t think everyone else will do something. It is up to you to pass this message along. And EVERYONE must contact all the members of these organizations to voice their feelings
We must contact the Library Commissioners to come up with another plan. Like the expansion using the adjoining property to the North side of the building. To show that you are in support of this direction maybe make an offer to donate money to the library for that direction of expansion. Since the other way to get their attention is with money.
The library Commissioners information is
Library Commission President
Susan Meadows
Library Commission Vice-President
Deanna Kalmbach
Treasurer
Phillip Howse
Board Member/School Board Representative
Joshua Gould
125 Kleyona Avenue
Phoenixville PA 19460
Board Member/Superintendent Representative
Mary Jane Weiss
Secretary/Representative to D/SAC
Maureen Ash
Board Members
James Mackey
Joseph Koury
Lee Deveny
Lawrence Jilk
Library Board meetings are held the 2nd Monday of each month at 6:00 PM in the Community Room. The public is invited to attend.
Just a few more Questions need to be asked
1) Is the any one on the library board , School board , Borough Council or Carnevale Eustis Architects, Inc own have title to or are related to the owners of the property north of the Library?
2) How much are the people asking for the property to the north of the library?
3) Is moving the Building an option? (Don’t really want the building just the land)
4) How much is the library willing to pay and / or how much is the borough going to charge for the actual closing one of the longest avenues in the borough?
5) How much will it cost to reroute the infrastructure on Second Avenue?
6) This isn’t just an avenue to a few homes. It is an emergency route for medical & Fire Equipment to easily access the homes on the east side of Starr St. You cannot put a price on life.
Carnevale Eustis Architects, Inc is heavily involved in many build projects in and around the borough of Phoenixville. They have a lot of influence with the borough planning commission. Including the plan to close Second Avenue.
Carnevale Eustis Architects, Inc
181 Bridge Street
Phoenixville PA 19460
Phone 610-933-0197
Fax 610-935-3600
Email info@cearchitects.com
http://www.cearchitects.com/html/project.asp#
The Phoenixville Planning Commission is who approve the plans for building projects. Please contact them to voice your displeasure of the closing of Second Avenue.
Chairman
Debra Johnston
240 Griffin Street
Phoenixville PA 19460
Teena Peters
895 Oxford Avenue
Phoenixville PA 19460
George Martynick
217 Franklin Avenue
Phoenixville PA 19460
Michael Holt
146 Buchanan Street
Phoenixville PA 19460
James EL
No Address Listed
David Sanock
No Address Listed
Jennifer Faggioli
No Address Listed
The Phoenixville Borough Council is the ones who must approve the closure of Second Ave. Make sure they hear you.
Mayor Leo Scoda
312 Virginia Ave
Phoenixville PA 19460
Council President
Henry Wagner
137 First Avenue
Phoenixville PA 19460
484-363-4956
Vice President
Richard Kirkner
405 Ann Street
Phoenixville PA 19460
610-935-1397
Kendrick Buckwalter
1117 Ross Lane
Phoenixville PA 19460
610-933-8106
Carlos Cirelos
142 First Avenue
Phoenixville PA 19460
610-415-1370
David Gill
1235 Tyler Avenue
Phoenixville PA 19460
610-935-1198
Michael Speck
413 Nutt Road
Phoenixville PA 19460
610-933-5499
Jeffery Senley
403 Westridge Drive
Phoenixville PA 19460
610-935-2227
Borough Manager
E. Jean Krack
140 Church Street
Phoenixville PA 19460
And Last but not least the Phoenixville School District actually owns the land the library sits on. And they should be notified also.
PASD President
Mark Cassaday
579 Brighton Way
Phoenixville PA 19460
PASD Vice President
Jill Slawecki
342 Milligan Street
Phoenixville PA 19460
William Mea
138 Washington Avenue
Phoenixville PA 19460
Mary Croke-Parris
965 BlackRock Road
Phoenixville PA 19460
Paul Salinka
1025 Gay Street
Phoenixville PA 19460
Joshua Gould
125 Kleyona Avenue
Phoenixville PA 19460
Debbie Dawson
1093 Lincoln Avenue
Phoenixville PA 19460
Keith Wickstrom
27 Flintlock ln
Phoenixville PA 19460
Lisa Starczewski
573 Brighton Way
Phoenixville PA 19460
Please don’t think that others will make this contact for you. You must make your voice heard. Make sure you speak up.