The new library opened its doors to the public for the first time on Tuesday, July 8. At the township council meeting on July 7, the discussion centered on what to do with the old library.
Rick Ragan, the township’s consulting architect, presented his findings to the board, outlining the different options available.
“There are many different things the old library could be used for,” Ragan said. “Some ideas I have heard are a police station and courtroom, retail and office space and a performing arts center.”
But, before discussing these possibilities, Ragan described the state of the building and what it would take to bring it up to code. In his estimation, it would cost nearly $3.5 million for the building to meet construction codes, and not including any modifications for repurposing the building.
“The cost to fit out the new library was $180 per foot, which is what it would cost to fit out the old library building,” Ragan said. “The total cost of redesigning the old library could climb to more than $6 million in my estimation.”
Another issue with renovating the old library for a new purpose is parking. The parking lot that was developed for the new Town Hall and library does not provide enough spaces for retail shopping, office spaces or a police station and courtroom, according to Ragan.
Due to the price and lack of parking, Ragan recommended the library be demolished.
“I feel that demolishing the old library is the best scenario,” he said. “Once the building is removed, the site would be graded at a slope toward the new library and Town Hall and could be used as an amphitheater.”
Members of council agreed with Ragan’s assessment, but did not take any action. There was also no objection from the public.
“This puts to rest a lot of the questions I have been asked about what is going to happen to the old library,” Deputy Mayor Stacey Jordan said.
In other news:
Kathy Ward, chairperson of Sustainable Moorestown, presented findings on the use of solar energy in town. The focus of the study was ways to cut down on the cost and use of energy.
The study looked at all municipally-owned buildings that could use solar panels. The result of the study showed all buildings could use solar panels and would generate 60–100 percent of their electricity. The board discussed bringing in a professional solar energy consultant to look at the possibility of installing solar panels on the roofs of township buildings, as well as the possibility of using brown fields to construct a solar field.
“There is absolutely no reason why Moorestown can’t benefit from solar projects,” Ward said.
