Cost estimates jump for new city library

By ERIC STIRGUS

© St. Petersburg Times, published October 24, 2000

LARGO -- City officials now say a new library will cost between $16.5-million and $22-million, twice as much as initially anticipated.

"We thought this was a more realistic number, taking into account parking and that the city may want to build a facility of better quality and more architecturally significant than your average government building would be," Assistant City Manager Henry Schubert said.

The higher number is not a comforting thought to Mayor Bob Jackson, who expected a new library to cost about $12-million.

"It seems high to me," the mayor said of the price.

Commissioners will discuss the cost along with several other long-range projects today at a work session at City Hall.

Though considered one of the major attractions in downtown Largo, the library is badly undersized, according to a study completed in December. The study concluded that Largo needs a library of about 68,000 square feet, nearly double its current size of about 36,000 square feet, which officials said would cost between $8-million and $10-million. But the study found that by 2010, Largo will need a 93,000-square-foot facility.

In July, commissioners agreed that it would make more sense to build a 93,000-square-foot library.

Now they have the price tag.

Schubert said the city will probably pay for the project by using a mix of Penny for Pinellas sales tax revenue, state and federal funds and donations from residents. City officials also have discussed borrowing money.

A consultant is looking into whether the library could be built on the former City Hall site on First Avenue SW. Another potential site is near its current location near Largo Central Park.

Jackson said he is concerned about committing so much money to this project, adding that there is a lack of support among commissioners and residents for a new library. He cited a recent St. Petersburg Times poll that found Largo residents are divided on the need for a new library. The mayor also griped that Commissioner Mary Laurance seemed to be the only commissioner that was enthusiastic about building a library during a recent discussion on using the old City Hall site.

The mayor suggested that the city might want to have a voter referendum on whether Largo should issue bonds to pay for part of the cost of a new library.

"I think we can do it," he said of a new library. "But I just want to see if there is an interest in the community."

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