OUR EXPANSION PROJECT

Summary of the 3/29/03 Public Presentation on the Library Expansion Project

The Ossining Public Library held a public presentation on its proposed expansion on Saturday, March 29th, 2003. It was the library’s second public program on this topic since its successful referendum in 2001 to purchase the adjacent Jackson Motors property. Over fifty people attended the event, which was taped by GO-TV.

The meeting started at 1 p.m. Library President Joyce Lannert opened the program with a welcome and introductions, and gave a brief history of the expansion project. Library Director Edward Falcone talked about the current building and its shortcomings, and the dramatic rise in library use in recent years. He then introduced the library’s architect, Todd Harvey. Harvey began his presentation by reviewing his approach to the project, which included many meetings with the library’s staff, a careful examination of the current building, and a review of the library’s long-term goals.

To meet those goals, Mr. Harvey determined that the library would need either a complete renovation and substantial addition, or a completely new and larger building. His initial impression was that a new building was more cost-effective and would allow the library to offer maximum service during construction. Mr. Harvey’s cost analysis was later confirmed by the library’s construction management firm, and the library board eventually directed him to plan a new facility. He ended his presentation on Saturday with a detailed examination of the latest plans.

Mr. Harvey showed the audience plans for a three-level building situated on the former Jackson property. The lower level consisted of a large performance space, a gallery, staff offices, and a 5,000 S.F. unfinished area for future expansion. The main level held the circulation desk, the Junior Room, the audio-visual collection, the Internet room, and periodicals. The upper level was devoted primarily to adult services and the teen collection, and included extra shelving on a mezzanine. Also displayed was a rendering of the front of the building, and a site plan showing the arrangement of parking spaces. The estimated total cost of this project was $15,841,000. A 30-year bond would cost the average Ossining homeowner an extra $106 per year, or $8.83 per month.

The final speaker that afternoon was Stuart Schiller of the construction management firm of JMOA Engineering. Mr. Schiller was responsible for estimating the cost of both alternatives (new construction vs. renovation/expansion), and he gave detailed costs for each. According to Mr. Schiller, an expansion sized to meet the library’s goals would be marginally less expensive, but would be less efficient, take longer to build, and require the library to find temporary quarters. There was very little that was salvageable in the current building, and it would have to be completely gutted.

Ms. Lannert said that the next steps in the process include refining the design, starting an environmental review, staging more public forums, and holding a referendum in the fall to raise the money needed for construction.

The remainder of Saturday’s program was devoted to audience recognition. Questions and suggestions fielded by the panel included:

Can there be a turnoff for buses to pick up and drop off passengers?
(Mr. Harvey will rework the design to try and allow for this)

There should be more space for young adults.

Can the outdoor spaces be enhanced with landscaping?
(yes, the site plan on display is only a first draft and it will be refined over time)

There were two requests for a café or coffee bar, but the board was not inclined to add these amenities to the new building at this time.

Will the building be energy-efficient?
(many energy-saving features will be included, and there is State grant money available to help pay for them)

Can there be more restrooms in the Junior Room?
(Mr. Harvey will review that part of the design)

Will proper attention be paid to the design of the rear of the building, overlooking Highland Avenue?
(a good point; Mr. Harvey will take that into consideration)

Are there opportunities for future expansion?
(aside from the unfinished basement, there is the possibility of extending the building over the lower parking lot if needed, and allowances will be made for a third-floor addition by making the structural steel strong enough)

How long would construction take?
(if the referendum passes in the fall, the new building could be up by 11/05, and the old building taken down by 2/06)

Will stadium seating in the meeting room be a problem for senior citizens?
(the room will be very flexible, and accessible to all)

Can there be an announcement board incorporated into the façade, or some other way to advertise events to passers-by?
(a good point; Mr. Harvey will investigate)

This plan is expensive; is there a fallback plan?
(no, the board has already scaled back the plan, this is the most efficient design that still addresses the many shortcomings of the current building and incorporates the suggestions submitted by the community)

Two patrons suggested combining the library with senior housing to spread the cost. Another patron suggested merging with the Briarcliff Library. The board said these options were not being considered at this time, but they were open to any reasonable suggestions. Trustee Zipkin asked patrons to inform the board of any grants or other funding opportunities that might help to advance this project.

Several patrons thanked the architect for listening to the community’s suggestions in November and incorporating many of them into the current plans. There were also many compliments on the look of the building and the thoughtfulness of the overall design. The board and architect thanked everyone for coming and participating in the design process. Mr. Harvey and Mr. Schiller remained to answer questions.

Summary by Edward Falcone
4/1/03

Summary of the 11/16/02 Public Presentation on the Library Expansion Project

The Ossining Public Library held a public presentation on its proposed expansion on Saturday, November 16th, 2002. It was the library’s first public program on this topic since its successful referendum in 2001 to purchase the Jackson property. Over fifty people attended the event, which was televised by GO-TV.

The meeting started at 2 p.m. Library President Joyce Lannert opened the program with a welcome and introductions. Library Director Edward Falcone talked about the history of the current library and reviewed its shortcomings. He then introduced the library’s architect, Todd Harvey. Harvey began with a slide presentation showing some of the library’s interior spaces, and contrasting them with pictures taken in newer libraries in the region. Harvey said that he was working with three guiding principles while imagining a design for the Ossining Library: the building should blend with the architecture of the Village, it should take advantage of the beautiful views of the Village and the river, and there should be parking for at least 100 cars.

Harvey reviewed the two options for expansion: adding on to the present library, or building a completely new structure on the Jackson site. In his experience, the first option is usually the most cost-effective. In Ossining, though, his early analysis leans towards a new building due to the difficulties of the site and the inadequacies of the current building. Building new would also speed the construction process and minimize service disruptions. He finished his presentation with a display of some conceptual design work for a new library.

The remainder of the program (nearly an hour) was devoted to a question-answer period. Questions and suggestions fielded by the architect included:

Will there be options for future expansion? Can it be built smaller, and added to later?
Interior space will be designed to be flexible, most likely our services will change rather than grow.

How much will it cost?
Too soon to tell, a construction manager will cost out alternatives soon.

What can be done about traffic on Croton Avenue?
A traffic study will be part of the process.

Please lean towards neighborhood architecture, not mall architecture. Have a good street presence, don’t highlight a giant parking lot.

Will an expansion still be explored?
Yes, but it will be very challenging, a construction manager will help with that decision.

Consider incorporating a rooftop space for outdoor activities.

Isn’t the amount of space being contemplated (50,000+ sq. ft.) a bit overwhelming?
This number is driven by the library’s program, but will be refined over time.

What will the performance space look like?
This is an important space, and a great deal of thought is still needed in this area. The challenge is to have a space that needs to serve multiple uses, and to serve them all well.

Will the demolition of the old library cause pollution?
If it is demolished, the work will be carefully monitored.

Mr. Harvey thanked everyone for attending and for giving him so much feedback on his early design. He said the plan will evolve over time, and budget numbers will follow. He looked forward to continuing the dialog with the Ossining community, and that another presentation would be planned early in the new year. It was the Library’s intention to keep the public involved at every step and to continue gathering feedback. He said that this meeting was a terrific start, and that he had never seen so much community interest in a library project.