Emporia city commissioners have a decision ahead on the future of the Carnegie Library.
The bid deadline has now passed, with publicized interest from Jason and Cassie Heffron to turn the building into an event venue and an outright bid from the Emporia Public Library — which would essentially serve as the lead wave of a major campus expansion for library operations. Director Robin Newell, a recent guest on KVOE’s Talk of Emporia, says the goal is to have enough space to meet current and future demand.
Overall, the library is looking to increase available space for parking, a children’s destination area, a teen safe zone, an auditorium-style meeting room and staff work areas. The library’s bid contains several options for the city to consider: join the current and Carnegie buildings in some way, demolish the Carnegie for parking or demolish the Carnegie for a new building at that address, as well as an expansion of the current library to the north and a replacement of the former Emporia Arts Center and SOS building at 618 Mechanic.
In that plan, Newell says the city would retain ownership like it does with the current library building — and the city would then be responsible for bringing the Carnegie up to code. The city, however, has been looking to sell the building at upwards of $5 million — with another $1.3 million in upgrades and repairs likely needed to bring it up to code. Besides selling the Carnegie, the city can “mothball” the property at over $300,000. It would also cost around $500,000 to demolish the building.
If the city decides against the library bid, the library will then turn its focus to 618 Mechanic.
Newell also says outright relocation out of downtown Emporia is another option if the Carnegie goes to another buyer and things don’t progress at 618 Mechanic. There are also other concerns with the current library like air conditioning, bathrooms and building entrances.
City commissioners will discuss the Carnegie situation as part of its study meeting Wednesday. A decision timetable is pending.
