Just as enthusiasm waned over his plans for a downtown library,
developer Rocke Garcia presented the Library Commission on Monday
with a fresh, new site plan that fixes many of the previous
plan
’s problems.
Just as enthusiasm waned over his plans for a downtown library, developer Rocke Garcia presented the Library Commission on Monday with a fresh, new site plan that fixes many of the previous plan’s problems.
Instead of two long buildings taking up the entire vacant frontage on the south side of East Third Street (between the Morgan Hill Times building and the train depot), the new version rounds the Third Street/Depot Street corner, leaving space for retail or restaurants and several courtyards.
The 40 market rate condominiums that Garcia says he must build on the land – which he owns – will be arrayed entirely along East Fourth Street. On-site parking will lie between the condos and the retail/library, plus underground parking for the residential buildings. More parking will be available along Depot and Fourth streets.
Still in the plan is a 30-foot wide promenade on Third Street, connecting Monterey Road’s downtown with the Caltrain station, the soon-to-be-built county courthouse and expected new retail and commercial developments along Depot.
The Morgan Hill Downtown Association board, which was extremely hesitant about the first design because it ignored the downtown plan, voted Tuesday to back Garcia’s new design. Third Street is supposed to be a mix of retail, commercial and housing. Libraries were not mentioned but Garcia said earlier that he thought building a 28,000 square-foot library with easy access by more people would benefit everyone.
Also changed are Garcia’s plan to control construction without going out to bid – which the city attorney said could not be done with taxpayer money. Garcia proposed to build the library and lease it to the city for 20 years, selling it to the city (for $1) at lease end. The city would buy the land, at that time, at market rate, though these details are negotiable, said City Manager Ed Tewes.
“In order to make the business deal cleaner,” Tewes said, “Rocke offered a straight ground lease and the city can design-build the library.”
Results of an unscientific straw poll asking residents where they want the library built came in at two to one in favor of keeping it where it is, five blocks away from the downtown area. Most cities are building their libraries as close to main thoroughfares as possible for the same reason Garcia gave – to provide easy access to the most people.
Recreation Manager Julie Spier said that there were 397 votes for the current library site, 197 for (Garcia’s first plan) downtown, 57 voting for either location – “just give us a library somewhere” – 47 in favor of no library and 2 other.
The Library Commission will make its site choice recommendation on June 7; the City Council will take up the decision later in June.
