Architect Mike Dingeldein, of SHP Leading Design, gave a progress report and presented approximately 50 attendees with two sites for consideration which he said are “readily available.”
One is at the former Walmart site on Locust Street, the other at the Western Knolls property, located on the west side of Oxford Reily Road (Ohio 732) just south of Brookville Road/Chestnut Street.
He said the main reason Lane Libraries is considering such a project, which has been estimated to cost approximately $7.5 million, is a lack of room.
“We’re simply out of space,” Dingeldein said. “Not only building space, but parking space, green space and all the things that come with that.”
He added that Lane Libraries already has the capital funds to build a new library, which has “an objective” of encompassing 25,000 square feet on four acres with 100 parking spaces.
The current library, Dingeldein said, is located on approximately “a quarter acre” with 15 parking spaces.
Dingeldein said eight sites originally were considered, including the former Talawanda High School and the Oxford Lane Library’s current location with the addition of the adjacent B.P. station site. The Talawanda Board of Education, he noted, has not been receptive to the idea, and the B.P. plan would have space and possibly environmental issues to be resolved.
Dingeldein said both sites under consideration have “good vehicular access” with “good neighborhoods.”
Should the former Walmart site be selected, Dingeldein said, that would be demolished and replaced by what he called “mixed use” re-development which also would include commercial and residential tenants.
“It would have lots of green space, lots of pedestrian access ways,” he said.
New Village Communities is the developer for the former Walmart site. Architect Robert Fiorita said the new development there would consist of “high-end architecture, brick on all sides.”
The Western Knolls site, a 47-acre property owned by the city, would be “very different, and somewhat extreme in terms of the opportunities available,” said Dingeldein. “It has open green space, really nice topography … a totally different environment to put a library in.”
Dan Mawer, of The RE/MAX Alpha Commercial Group, said “what we offer (at the Western Knolls site) is the ability to incorporate whatever design you want, and wide outside spaces” which he said could provide an opportunity for more outside features such as walking trails among foliage.
The process could move quickly, especially if a site is selected. The board’s next meeting is in December and Dingeldein said a letter of intent possibly could be signed before the end of the year.
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