A new public building committee is going to be formed to assist with efforts to relocate the #MiddletownRI Public Library, a project expected to save taxpayers at least $14 million and not add a cent to the tax rate.
LIBRARY PROJECT TAKING NEXT STEPS
MIDDLETOWN, R.I. (NOVEMBER 4, 2024) – A public building committee is being formed to assist with the relocation of the Middletown Public Library.
At a recent meeting in Town Hall, Town Administrator Shawn J. Brown told the Town Council the town recently finalized the purchase of the one-acre plus site and structure at 110 Enterprise Center.
Brown said the goal of the new committee was to solicit the feedback and expertise of community members for the renovation of the new library that’s just steps away from Town Hall. The committee will serve a role similar to the work of the volunteer School Building Committee that’s guiding the new middle-high school construction project just north of Gaudet Middle School.
Applications for the Library Building Committee will open soon and widely advertised in hopes of securing a diverse cross segment of Middletown. Library and town leaders are expected to participate in the Library Building Committee as well.
Building tours are in the works and will be announced in coming weeks as those details come together.
“The School Building Committee has been an excellent asset and made amazing improvements to the look, feel and function of the new middle-high school,” Brown said. “From everything we’ve heard, the Library Building Committee is envisioned the same way and will give our residents, library patrons and community direct involvement into the process and this amazing project.”
At the request of council President Paul M. Rodrigues, Brown delved deeper into how the financing for the new library would work.
Acknowledging the town had to move quickly because of the intense competition for 110 Enterprise Center, Brown emphasized the purchase and renovations would not add one cent to the town’s tax rate now — or moving forward.
Importantly, he reiterated the town would be avoiding more than $14 million in additional expenses if the library was built at 740 West Main Road as originally envisioned. Instead, the area north of the old Kennedy School will be transformed into ballfields and play spaces.
“There will be no need to go to the general fund to raise taxes to pay for the project,” Brown said.
To accomplish this, Brown said a mix of existing money and reimbursements from the state to the town will pay for the library.
One source is money used from the town’s public private venture (PPV) to provide emergency services to the Coddington Cove and Greene Lane neighborhoods.
With debt to pay for construction of the police station at 123 Valley Road rolling off the town’s books, Brown said that money will be available for other uses.
The council decided to allocate about $400,000 of that funding towards the library renovations. He said the remaining $200,000 of the annual bond payment will be covered by state reimbursements on library renovations.
The council announced the new plans for the library on Oct. 7 after a whirlwind of activity surrounding the project. The town bought 110 Enterprise Center for $3.3 million on Oct. 22.
At the time, town officials said the deal came together quickly after real concerns emerged with original plans to move the new library to 740 West Main Road. That’s the location of the now closed Kennedy School just south of the intersection with Valley Road.
They said one reason for shifting gears was the project at 110 Enterprise Center was far better than anything the town could do at 740 West Main Road.
For one, town and library leaders said the 29,952-square-foot single story space at 110 Enterprise Center was preferred over a similarly sized two-story building at 740 West Main Road.
In addition to making accessibility easier for all at 110 Enterprise Center, they said there were a number of logistical benefits in a one-floor structure that weren’t possible in a multi-level building.
Then, they said 110 Enterprise Center was set in a quieter location that naturally lent itself to more outdoor activities as a gathering space for the community. Town and state officials continue their discussions about bringing a bus route to 110 Enterprise Center.
From a timeline standpoint, they said the library at 110 Enterprise Center was expected to be open in two years. They said it was unlikely a shovel would be in the ground at that point for a library at 740 West Main Road.
Town officials also said keeping the library at 740 West Main Road added a number of complications to the Middletown Center project. Under terms of a public-private partnership the town signed for 600-740 West Main Road, the town is expected to get $1.1 million in new money annually when that project is substantially complete. See https://mdl.town/NYCU-MC for more about that effort.
Importantly, by renovating 110 Enterprise Center, the project is expected to save local residents more than $14 million compared to building new at 740 West Main Road. The anticipated cost per square foot for new construction was $722 compared to $291 for buying and renovating 110 Enterprise Center.
Brown said despite the perception for some that the developers of Middletown Center were supposed to pay for the new library, that never was the case.
“The developer was always going to pay a land lease for the (Middletown Center) property…” Brown said. “What we had envisioned was we’d take that lease money and then finance the library with it. We won’t have to do that at this point (by using the PPV money to fill that hole instead).”
Instead, Brown said the $375,000 from the initial annual ground lease payment from Middletown Center will be available to pay down other debt, provide tax relief, education or other uses. It’s up to the incoming council how best to apply that money, he said.
“I think people thought that there was some sort of loss of revenue with the deal that was ultimately reached with the developers…and that’s not the case,” Brown said.
“(The developers) were never going to build the building,” council Vice President Thomas Welch III said. “We were just going to use the money from it…Thank you for clearing that up.”
As part of its Middletown Center agreement, Brown noted the town would not be paying for any of the infrastructure improvements to the property like roads, traffic lights and more.
“Those make ready costs are all borne by the developer,” Brown said. “That was an important part of the negotiations in this whole process. It’s expensive to develop a pad ready site and that cost and that risk now belongs to the developer. It’s not on the taxpayers’ plate.”
Because there’s a public benefit conveyance on part of the West Main Road Recreational Complex where Pottsy Field is located, Brown said the town has to move that benefit to another location with similar property value.
He said the town is currently in discussions with its attorneys, the US Navy and the federal Department of Interior to move that benefit north of where the Kennedy School is located.
“What we’re trying to do is minimize that cost,” Brown said. “Going through the process, we’re looking at flipping that (West Main Road Recreational Complex) to the north side of the property and maintaining an open space over there, which our advisory committee has sought when we reached out to the public.”
Since the purchase was first announced, 110 Enterprise Center has earned rave reviews from those who will be using the library most — staff, volunteers and patrons.
They said the open floor plan, heavy-duty construction, plenty of windows and more make the new library a winner for everyone.
"One of the most exciting aspects of the new library location is that it moves us off a busy four-lane road,” library Director Kimberly Usselman said. “This change opens up new possibilities for utilizing our outdoor space safely and peacefully, making it an inviting spot for community events and outdoor programming without the concerns of traffic noise or safety. This is a major step forward for creating a truly community-centered space.”
Usselman said she’s heard quite a bit of buzz about the project and all that it will bring for the community.
"The new library's proximity to Town Hall is another incredible benefit,” Usselman said. “Being so close means we can better support community meetings, local committees, and town boards, making it a natural hub for civic engagement and collaboration. We’re looking forward to strengthening our connection with the town in this new space.”
Others agreed, saying Middletown was setting itself up for the future with another solid, well thought out effort.
“This library site is a win all the way around for the taxpayer, it’s a win for the library, it’s a win for Middletown, it’s a win for the open space in that new development,” Rodrigues said. “It’s not going to hit the tax rate at all and that’s what important.”
Document Link: https://mdl.town/NYCU-Next-Steps
About Middletown
The Town of Middletown is a vibrant community located on Aquidneck Island, known for its scenic beauty, historic landmarks, diverse economy and strong sense of community. For more information about all we have to offer, visit MiddletownRI.gov online.
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