Raise it? Or move it?
Bradenton Beach officials are considering either further elevating the Tingley Memorial Library to accommodate parking under the building or moving the library.
Community redevelopment agency members discussed the possibility June 7, when Mayor John Chappie spoke about the need for parking for the library, which shares a parking lot with city hall, and introduced concepts to increase the elevation or move the library, built in 1994, to allow more parking.
The library is a city-owned building and CRA funds cannot be used on city structures. However, the creation of a public parking lot in the CRA District, where the library and city hall are situated, is appropriate for CRA funding.
The library is named for Beulah Tingley, a Bradenton Beach resident who became a member of the Bradenton Beach Library Board.
She noted a lack of space for a public library, which then was housed in an old cottage on Church Avenue and, upon her death in 1986, bequeathed more than $600,000 for the construction and operation of a permanent library in the city.
Tingley stated the need for “a quiet place where books could be enjoyed.”
Building official Steve Gilbert said an architect and engineer would need to examine the building to determine the feasibility of relocating or raising the building.
“I think you’re halfway there,” CRA member Ed Chiles said about the need to harden buildings against storms.
“You have a capital improvement plan that says you need to harden your facilities for storms,” he said. “If you are going to go up and you’re going to harden, go up and combine the library and city hall or whatever kind of function therein.”
“I’d love to have a discussion about ad valorem dollars and I know we are seeing big increases of the tax base. How much room is there? What could we buy? Because this city building has been here since 1970. We need to be planning and looking out for the next 50 years. This is an opportunity to do it,” Chiles continued.
Chappie said he wanted CRA permission to work with Gilbert and city attorney Ricinda Perry to write a request for proposals on the library-parking project.
CRA member David Bell raised concerns about using CRA funds for city buildings. He referred to the CRA meeting packet and said, “My understanding has always been that the CRA may not work on city buildings but in here it says that we will be elevating the library as part of this RFP, that we will be paying for it through the CRA.”
Chappie said, “What I am asking for is to direct all three of us together to show how this is a CRA project. A public parking lot is what we are trying to create and utilize the land underneath that building.”
Chappie motioned for the CRA to direct Perry, Gilbert and himself to develop and present an RFP for the possible elevation and/or relocation of the library.
The motion was seconded by Chiles and passed 5-0. CRA members Jake Spooner and Marilyn Maro, also city commissioners, were absent with excuses.
As of Islander press time June 12, no timeline had been set for the project.
Thoughts at the library
Eveann Adams has been clerk of the library for 20 years.
“Ever since I’ve been here, they’ve talked about the possibility of raising up the library so there’d be parking underneath,” Adams told The Islander June 7. “I personally think it would be a good idea. … I only have four or five spaces out there.”
Adams said patronage is seasonal.
“It drops off drastically after March and by April, if we have two or three customers a day, we are lucky,” she said.
During the height of tourist season the library is busier and finding parking can present a challenge.
The library operates under a fund established with Tingley’s bequeath.
“Beulah’s vision was to have a reading room. I kind of like it that you have a library available for the community because they are almost a thing of the past,” Adams said. “I think it’s kind of a little jewel in the city to have a library.”
City treasurer Shayne Thompson told The Islander May 7 the library fund contains $302,000. However, he said, an upcoming $50,000 roof replacement for the library would be paid from the fund.
