by Jerry Burke and Liz McBreen
The library board, which, along with the civic group the Friends of the Library, recently sponsored a "Walk for the Library" at the proposed site, believes that a new library is necessary because the current library, which occupies a portion of the first floor of the Chestnut Street school building, has grown too small for the community and is technologically out of date. The 50-year-old building is also not compliant with the Americans With Disabilities Act.
The bond comes two years after the last attempt by the library to build anew. In 2001, a $10 million bond to build a new facility on the corner of Woodfield Road and Hempstead Avenue was soundly defeated by voters, many of whom were concerned about the site's proximity to the much maligned Courtesy Hotel.
This time around, the proposed location is on the corner of Locust and Hempstead Avenue, a more central and safer site.
The bond includes $1.26 million set aide for purchasing the businesses that already exist on the 9/10 of an acre of land. According to the library, a fair market value is being offered to the businesses that occupy the space. Should the bond pass, the school district will make a bid to purchase the land, and once it is sold, the leases of the current businesses will cease. The estimated loss of property tax revenue for the district is about $60,000 according to the county assessor's office.
Greg Yuknek, the president of the West Hempstead Chamber of Commerce and supporter of the bond, has said the chamber would assist business owners in finding new homes in West Hempstead. "The chamber, and the library, do not want to see these stores leave West Hempstead," said Yuknek. "We understand the importance and value these businesses have in our community."
Should the bond pass without an agreement on the land sale, the school district can exercise the power of eminent domain. This allows districts to acquire property at the fair market value in order to construct facilities that are needed in the community.
Ralph Reissman, president of the library board, explained that the two owners of the land were offered fair market value for the property but the offer was rejected. Although the owners have decided to have their land appraised, state law says that a district cannot offer more than 10 percent over the fair market value for land. If the bond passes, the district will be given the title to the land, and real estate appraisers will go to court to decide on a dollar amount for the land if the owners continue to contest the valuation. A court battle could delay the library's plans for years.
Should a settlement end up being more than what the district offered, Reissman said the money in the libraryÕs reserves will cover it. According to the districtÕs lawyers, the necessity of another bond is very unlikely. ÒWe have done everything right so far. We are not lowballing anyone,Ó said Reissman.
Concerns regarding the strip of land that lies behind the existing strip mall were raised at the last West Hempstead Civic Association meeting. Some residents worried that the Town of Hempstead, the owner of the land, would object to part of the library being built on this property. Since then, the town has offered to sell the land to the district for $1 if the bond passes, although no written agreement has been reached.
According to Reissman, the bond vote will lock in the bond amount and the current low interest rate. If the vote passes, the library will also be able to take advantage of an offer by the Town of Hempstead to re-pave, re-paint and maintain the 158-space parking lot that will be used by library patrons. Construction manager Bill Sullivan explained that there would be no tax increase until the 2005-06 budget year, when the construction actually begins.
Another concern raised at public meetings is the environmental integrity of the proposed Locust Avenue and Hempstead Avenue site. A "phase one" environmental study has already been conducted, and the results "showed no significant impact or danger on the property," according to Reissman. If the bond passes, a phase two study will be done. If any pollutants should be found on the property, they will be cleaned up at the expense of the land's owner, or the amount will be taken out of the purchase price of the property.
Sullivan also said residents should not be concerned about the budget for the library surpassing the bond amount. ÒIf we find that the project is going over budget, we go back to the drawing board," he said. "We are not allowed to go over the amount of the bond that is passed. The state does not allow it.Ó
If the bond passes, construction is slated to begin in July 2004, pending the stateÕs approval of the site plan and design. The library hopes to move during Christmas recess of the following year, and the library would be open to the public in January 2006. The vote will take place on June 3, from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m., at the West Hempstead Middle School.
