On Monday, members of the library building committee, library trustees, town selectmen, the Edgartown school principal, the building architect and project manager were on hand to commemorate the Edgartown library groundbreaking.
With white hard hats and gold shovels, Edgartown officials on Monday celebrated the beginning of construction on a new library.
The space formerly occupied by the old Edgartown School is now dirt surrounded by a chain link fence, with construction equipment signalling the beginning of the building process.
There will be a community groundbreaking in May.
On Monday, members of the library building committee, library trustees, town selectmen, the Edgartown school principal, the building architect and project manager were on hand to commemorate the initial groundbreaking.
“This is special because you guys are our real boots on the ground,” library director Jill Dugas Hughes told the group of volunteers. “We can finally say this is really, really truly going to happen.”
The library project has been a long time in the making as the town grappled with replacing or expanding the circa-1904 Carnegie library on North Water street. Early plans to expand or rebuild the library at the existing location fell through, and plans turned to the site of the old Edgartown School, which is located next to the existing school. Edgartown received a state grant for about half the $11 million cost.
The old Edgartown School was demolished over the summer, and the library is expected to be substantially completed by June 2015.
“Today is symbolic of all the efforts that so many people have put forth over the last decade to build a really outstanding library for current and future generations,” Ms. Hughes said.
After applause, the gold shovels went in the dirt.
Comments
My family and I can't wait
Ken Esq EdgartownMy family and I can't wait for it to open! Let's get those shovels moving!
Thank you to everyone involved for all of your hard work in getting this project underway.
yayyyy! Can't wait to see the
louise DuArt SQuire Rushnell edgartownyayyyy! Can't wait to see the library in all it's glory!
We should all be reminded
Bob EdgartownWe should all be reminded every time we talk about the Library that the town selectman and leaders cost the tax payers almost $2,000,000 in the Warren House disaster. There was no leadership to stop the madness of spending $3.5M to buy a run down building. When this museum to books is finished it will be one of the most expensive library ever built on the Island and maybe the state on a per square foot price. We sold the Warren house but we still are paying for it how great is that!!!
I'll prefer to utilize it as
Ken Esq EdgartownI'll prefer to utilize it as a great community resource. Modern libraries are far from "Museums to books."
The purchase of the warren
Payton and tax payer Edg.The purchase of the warren house was misfortunate. It was done too quickly by a group too eager. With good leadership in place, this library will be an incredible addition to a beautiful town. Focus on the positive, don't dwell on the past.
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