Friday, June 27, 1997
Council tables proposal for S. 14th location
By ANTHONY WILSON / Abilene Reporter-News
The Abilene City Council shelved a lease for a branch library
Thursday after two of its members raised concerns about the site's
accessibility.
While considering a five-year lease for 5,600 square feet in
Frenchman's Creek Shopping Center, Councilman Don Drennan announced
his opposition to the contract, saying a left turn from the location
onto South 14th is too difficult.
Councilman Paul Vasquez echoed the sentiments.
"I want the branch to succeed so it can be the best experience
it can be," Drennan said. "Sometimes, you can pay too
little and not get the right location. Maybe we need to look further."
Mayor Gary McCaleb and Councilwoman Carol Martinez supported
Drennan's motion to table the proposal. Martinez wants the city
to investigate northside sites, including a proposed branch at
North 12th and Grape.
During its eight-month study, the Citizens Library Review Panel
concluded the city should open a storefront branch to increase
usage of and support for the Abilene Public Library. The operation
is meant to be a steppingstone to a larger, permanent branch.
Among the criteria the council adopted for a storefront site
are ahigh-traffic, convenient location in the city's southwest,
high visibility, good parking and 3,000-5,000 square feet.
The city received seven offers for sites. A three-member committee
scouted each location and deemed 1401 S. Danville the best.
"This is the first time I've heard this concern being
voiced," said Mike Hall, community services director. "We
have a different opinion. We feel this will serve our needs."
The vacant site, at the intersection of South 14th and the
Winters Freeway, neighbors Alioli's Mediterranean Grill. It once
housed a Hastings bookstore before that operation moved to the
opposite end of the strip center and eventually across South 14th.
The traffic seemed to be of less concern to some council members.
"I can't imagine a retailer saying, 'I'm not going to
put my store there because too many people are coming and going,'
" Rob Beckham said.
Though tabling the lease, during which the city would pay $38,304
a year, may delay the branch's slated Oct. 1 opening, panel members
weren't fretting after Thursday's meeting.
"I think it's appropriate if they have concerns to sit
back and look at them," chairman Ed Patton said. "I
don't have heartburn about it. They have to be comfortable with
this. Citizens should appreciate their thoroughness."
Also Thursday, the panel formally presented the council with
its recommendation to build a 75,000-square-foot, "state-of-the-art"
main library at North 6th and Cypress.
A fall bond election is expected to seek voter approval for
the project, whose costs are estimated at $10.6 million.
Patton reiterated his belief that community support is swelling.
"I sometimes make statements I regret," he told the
council. "Early on, I said there was no chance of a bond
election passing. I stand corrected. I think we now have a good
chance of passage. With public education, I think we have an excellent
chance of passage."
The council did not act on the recommendations, saying it wants
time to digest the panel's findings.
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Abilene Reporter-News / Texnews / E.W. Scripps Publications
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