The library board is moving forward to determine the feasibility of buying the former Quilting Bits & Pieces location.
Board members toured the vacant building at 736 Main St. during a special meeting Tuesday night as they continue discussing what to do about the future of the library. The quilt store closed in November after owner Christina DeArmond decided to retire. Library board members had been considering whether to try another public vote in November to construct a larger library when they received an invitation to consider the former quilt store.
Bill DeArmond gave the board an overview of the space, which is 8,200 square feet on the main floor and includes a basement now used for storage. His Hands Closing Closet rents a portion of the building, which has previously housed a grocery store and hardware store.
Ahead of Tuesday’s tour, board President Kenny Massey had looked at the property with library Director Carol Wohlford and other staff. The main floor of the quilt store is four times the square footage of the current library, he said.
Board members were impressed overall with the potential of the building as a future library but decided there were several factors to investigate before making a decision.
These include reaching out to the city to discuss parking and what other regulations may apply. The board also wants reports on the infrastructure of the building and utility records. Further research is also needed on how to potentially pay for the building and any remodeling, including whether the board can access the $500,000 previously raised in a capital campaign or find other financing.
Board treasurer Amy Jankowski said she thinks the quilt shop space has potential but also views it as a temporary 10-year plan since she still favors building a new library eventually. She said they should get estimates for the cost of remodeling the quilt store. However, Jankowski said the library could move into the quilt store “right this minute” and it would be “better than this building.”
Jankowski asked the board if it still wanted to consider trying a bond vote in November, knowing the quilt store may not still be available by that point if they waited.
Massey said he has reservations about trying a public vote again with the current economic climate and continued concerns about property taxes in town.
He said he’s been told His Hands Closing Closet hopes it will be allowed to stay in its space after a new owner buys the building.
“My opinion is she should stay because what she does ties into so much of the conversations we’ve had based on the community involvement, especially with Laura’s [Smith] position and everything she provides,” he said.
Board member Mike Keltner said the rental income from sharing the space would be helpful.
Jankowski advised making a decision about the quilt store building by the end of February since they would need to decide by March whether to try another public vote for a new building.
“We need to get other players involved pretty quickly,” she said.
Board member Tim Pringle said he thought the board should seriously think about the quilt shop building, but he wanted to make sure to consult the city about parking.
Board member Eric Magette said he thought moving the library to 736 Main St. would bring more people downtown and get them engaged with other businesses. He said he feels like the quilt store option is what residents asked the board to do after the last bond failed – look for an existing structure that can be renovated within the budget already available.
“This is a great chance to show them we heard that,” he said.
Massey said they need to consider what kind of renovations they would want to do.
“I’m of the opinion we don’t want to make it the Taj Mahal,” he said. “We want it operational. We want it user-friendly.”
Massey said he would begin conversations with the city immediately Wednesday and reach out to find the other information needed before the board decides how to move forward. Overall, he sees the quilt store as a serious option.
“The minute I walked in, I just thought, ‘Wow. There’s potential here,’” he said.
