New Kent Charles City Chronicle

News for New Kent County and Charles City County, Virginia | March 29, 2024

Library’s location leads public discussion at Charles City forum

By Andre Jones | September 27, 2016 12:59 pm

Location, location, location.

Normally when a person hears that word, they think of infomercials that advertise a place to go on vacation or a business that is within their community. At the Sept. 26 public forum that provided an update on construction of a library in Charles City, it was the primary concern among most speakers.

Fifty people attended the hour-long meeting that presented the initial plans for the construction of a library in the courthouse complex of the county. After a 2015 bond referendum passed during last November’s election, supervisors created a timeline to stay on track with the building’s construction.

Architect Barry Moss presented slide show photos of the proposed facility. His mockup displayed the location of the 8,500 square foot building west of the current old historic courthouse. The proposal includes usage of part of the parking lot for the current courthouse, as well as a connecting path from the proposed library to the old historic courthouse, linking the two buildings. Another primary focus would include renovating the old courthouse building, making it capable of hosting meetings.

The architect said several aspects were considered for the design plan.

“I looked at a lot of factors that included cost, historical preservation, and structural integrity,” Moss commented. “This is a plan that is going to keep everything at scale but also restore and preserve the heritage of the old courthouse.”

And while many citizens at the meeting agreed with the design concept, backlash about the location near the old courthouse stirred concerns.

“I have listened to literally thousands of guests talk about the landscape in front of the courthouse,” said Bonnie Whitaker, who owns Cul’s Courthouse Grille that sits directly across from the proposed location. “When they heard about the possible location they were in shock.

“I think you should reconsider the location,” she added. “There are other sites that can be used and we should revisit it.”

Whitaker made reference to a large field located south of the current courthouse building. According to many speakers, that land is an ideal spot for the facility.

“Put the library in the original position in the south field facing the old courthouse,” commented Julia Boyd. “By doing that it leaves the integrity of the old courthouse intact.”

“The plan looks good, but the biggest problem is the place” added Jim Daniels, who owns the property that Cul’s Grille and the Nance-Major House sits on. “I hope the supervisors do not rush things as this is an important issue.”

Not all citizens were opposed to the proposed location. After viewing the sketches, some were in full support of the library based on a number of factors.

“I like its location,” said Jimmy Tyler, who has been lobbying for a library since 2003. “If it’s built here, I want visitors to ask the younger generation, ‘Weren’t you fortunate to have the library put in a location that saved the old historic courthouse?’ Future generations will thank you for this.”

“I remember I was adamantly against the construction of the library,” Donald Hayes said at the podium. “The county can only handle so much debt.

“The referendum only asked if the county wanted a library,” he continued. “The plans are admirable. Location is the only opposition I heard.”

After receiving comments from 15 speakers, the county’s board of supervisors inserted input on the situation.

“When we first designed plans, we were looking at a ‘Taj Mahal’ type,” said District 2 supervisor Bill Coada. “This board didn’t find the first study worked.

“This board has worked with the library campaign committee to find alternatives,” he continued. “I am still not saying that I support the location, but this proposal was done with a bang-up job putting it together.”

District 3 and board chairman Floyd Miles Sr. addressed rumors about a decision already being made to accept the current design.

“This board will make a decision together when it comes to the library,” Miles said. “There have been rumors that the board had chosen this location for library and that’s not true.

“We have worked hard to get this library to become a reality,” he continued. “We created a timeline of what we needed to do and that includes having a public forum to receive comments.”

“Whatever decision this board makes, it won’t please everybody and there are some people it just won’t please ever,” added District 1 supervisor Gilbert Smith. “However, we will make the best decision with what we have heard from our citizens and the architect.”

According to county administrator Zach Trogdon, renovation of the historic courthouse and construction on the library at the proposed location would cost $2.7 million.