Meeting in Rockport Opera House, July 20

Rockport to hear new library progress report, see proposed designs

Tue, 07/19/2016 - 8:45am

    ROCKPORT — Design plans are on the table for the new Rockport Public Library building, and architects will talk about them with citizens July 20, at the Rockport Opera House, upstairs. At a July 18 meeting, The Select Board got a preview of possible plans, which include a rooftop deck with views over the harbor, room for reading, outdoor films and solar panels, a new children’s garden by the currently overgrown stream, 24 new parking spaces on a one-way Limerock Street, and other creative ideas for a two-story public library that could, if need be, get expanded to three stories and still remain under code.

    The planning committee’s chairman, Jan Rosenbaum, gave the Select Board and a handful of citizens an overview of progress to date, with slides. (Click here to watch the July 18 meeting).

    The proposed building’s footprint is approximately 4,500 square feet in size, and the design allows for expansion in height on a 2,300-square-foot rooftop footprint.

    The July 20 meeting will begin at 6:30 p.m. and is for all stakeholders and citizens of Rockport. The information session will cover updates on the process so far:

    1.       Memorial Park enhancement

    2.       Library site planning

    3.       Interior program space

    4.       Basic project costs

    5.       Potential look of the new building

    This informational meeting will also be available via Livestream, at https://livestream.com/Rockportmaine. Information on the committee and the planning process to date is available at .rockport.lib.me.us/extra7.asp . The July 18 meeting was to “bring people up to speed,” said Rosenbaum. “This is a progress report, not a final document.” 

    The architect, Dick Reed of Portland, was given in producing initial sketches: The library was “to accommodate the programmatic goals of the library committee and had to be located on the existing library site or the park across the street or a combination of both,” said Rosenbaum.

    In the design lies a proposed reconfiguration of the intersection of Union, Central and Russell Ave. The pedestrian island will go away — “ a major goal of everyone because we are tired of everyone trying to figure out to go around it,” said Rosenbaum.

    Limerock is to become one-way, with allowance there for 24 parking spaces, angled at 90 degrees.

    The planning committee is hoping the town will apply for Maine Department of Transportation grants to help reconstruct the intersection on Union Street. That portion of the road is town-maintained but because it is old Route 1, it is federally owned.

    A children’s garden is proposed to be created on the east side of the library, next to the stream, in an area currently overgrown with trees and brush.

    The main entrance of the library is to be on Limerock Street.

    As for fundraising, an independent committee is currently being formed. At the helm is Charlton Ames, who told the Select Board Monday evening that the project, estimated at approximately $4.5 million, will only succeed if the community endorses it.

    Currently, there is conversation around the town bonding $1 million of the project and private funding covering the rest of the cost.

    Ames said there are three ingredients to a successful fundraising: That the project is important, and he added,” there is nothing more important than a community’s library.”

    The project has to be exciting, he said.

    “You have picked the right architect,” said Ames. “Dick Reeed is the most qualified architect in the state of Maine for libraries.”

    The third ingredient is energy.

    “We are going to have to all work on it,” said Ames. “The citizens of Rockport are going to have to want this library. If we can energize the voters of Rockport and get them to support this bond, I think we will be OK. But we are going to really have to work.”

     

    Related stories 

    Rockport ready to contract with Portland architect

    Rockport Select Board to consider library architect choice

    Rockport committee to narrow field of library architects Wednesday

    Rockport considers site survey, borings at Memorial Park for new library site

    • Rockport appoints committee to plan library construction project

    • Rockport signs intent to lease Route 1 office for library location

    • Rockport talks tonight behind closed doors about Route 1 building lease

    • Rockport Select Board to consider leasing Route 1 space for temporary library space

    • Rockport Select Board hopes to move library before winter sets in

    • Studies are in: Rockport Library building in poor condition, more space needed

    • Initial Rockport Library findings: Citizens want improved service, better parking

    • Rockport library consultant wants to hear from citizens, presents initial findings April 29

    • Rockport selectmen vote no to placing another library question on June ballot

    • Rockport addresses proposed June Town Meeting article to keep library in situ

    • What is Rockport Library, and what might it become? 

    • Rockport residents vote against a new library, placing it at former RES site 

    • Rockport leaders approve two library referendums; next stop, voting booth

     

    • Rockport Public Library hearing: Aug. 5 terms of engagement 

     

     • Rockport leaders consider controversial library vote, water quality, real estate acquisition 

    • Rockport subcommittee recommends RES land as library site

    • Debate over future of Rockport Public Library: Expand on-site or build on former school land 


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