EDITOR: I attended the Library Commission meeting last week at
City Hall and would like to make some comments regarding the
proposed library sites. There were two plans presented: One was
adjacent to the present library at West Main and DeWitt and the
other on Third Street between Monterey and Depot.
EDITOR:
I attended the Library Commission meeting last week at City Hall and would like to make some comments regarding the proposed library sites. There were two plans presented: One was adjacent to the present library at West Main and DeWitt and the other on Third Street between Monterey and Depot.
The Main/DeWitt site offers good transportation with a bus route right in front of it, safety from traffic, adequate parking and it helps to open up the block as a beautiful place to gather and relax. It is a single-story building offering easy access to all areas and there is room for expansion.
The second site, on Third Street is very crowded and parking is very limited. It does not offer a lot of open space out of doors and future expansion is limited. It is planned as a two-story building, which requires at least one elevator in order to permit access by all. Currently that area often becomes a parking problem and will become worse if the library is built. Part of that plan is to include 30 townhouses, which will have underground parking, but the underground parking will not accommodate the “extra vehicles” or visitor vehicles which always exist.
During the weekly farmers market, since there are activities at the martial arts studio across the street, parking can be a little difficult.
I suspect that the limited parking at that site would be taken by people making a “short visit” to something else in the area, which would make visiting the library difficult. Additionally, in the evening, the area may not be as safe for teenagers as would the existing library site. The Third Street site would be a lease rather than owned property and at the end of 25 years, the city would be required to purchase it at the going rate. I sincerely hope that the decision will be made to locate the new library in the existing area.
Nancie Barker, Morgan Hill
