Revised Proposal for the Library in the Works

Proponents for a renovated and expanded library have been retooling their proposal and will present revised plans that will substantially reduce the required funding from the Village of Scarsdale. Library Board President Terri Simon and Library Director Elizabeth Bermel said they "listened carefully to feedback from the Village and comments from a report from the Scarsdale Forum." They "heard widespread enthusiasm for the design and growing understanding for doing this, but know that people are concerned about the cost. They are working on a response.

Simon said they had met with Dattner Architects to do some "value engineering" and find ways to economize while still realizing the programmatic achievements for the project. The two feel confident that with private funding they can deliver a project that does not "gut the plan."

Earlier this month the Municipal Services Committee of the Scarsdale Forum issued a report in support of a library renovation that asked for "economies and prioritization of design features," and a "fiscally tenable plan that would not present any imprudent risk to the Village and its taxpayers." They recommend the exploration of a range of design options and a cost-benefit analysis of each one. They note that Dattner's original report included a scaled back "Option B" offering a savings of $2 million. However, some of the elements that were eliminated were "intrinsic to programming and user needs and should not be considered expendable." They also stressed that project incorporate sustainable design, and that it be energy efficient and "healthful." The forum committee called for a third "hybrid" design choice. You can find the full report here: 

Simon and Bermel said the committee is putting together a binder of materials to make available to the public that will include all source documents that were part of this decision making process along with an FAQ. They said they have "thoughtfully analyzed their decisions," and considered the forum's feedback. The binder will also include a sustainability analysis. Since this is a renovation, not a new building, it will not be LEED certified, but it will be "environmentally responsible."

In the meantime, an investigation of the subsurface is being conducted and an engineer is analyzing the building foundation so that there are no surprises during construction. They are also working on a study of traffic and parking.

Simon pointed out that time is of the essence, because construction and material costs continue to rise while the project is debated. Also, in order for the Library Board to meet its fundraising goal, they need the funding commitment from the Village.

They hope to present their revised plans to the Board of Trustees in the next few weeks.