Voters OK $29M for Five-Branch Albany Plan

-- Library Journal, 02/13/2007

Voters in Albany, NY, February 6 approved a referendum that commits $29.1 million to overhaul five neighborhood library branches. The two-to-one final vote was a victory, as bitter cold and the late opening of the polls (noon instead of 7 a.m.) contributed to a low turnout. The proposition increases the property tax an average of $50 a year. The Albany Public Library board of trustees last year rejected a more expensive plan that would have boosted the project up to $65 million with the inclusion of a new main branch. It would have nearly doubled the property tax.

The new library plan calls for the construction of two new branches and three renovations. A new $5.7 million, 11,900 square foot branch will serve the West Hill and Arbor Hill neighborhoods. The second new building will replace a small branch located within a school; $4 million will be used for an 8400 square foot, two-story building. Another $4.7 million will be used to renovate a funeral home to house the 10,100 square foot Delaware Avenue branch, $5.2 million to renovate and build a new addition to the Howe branch in the South End, and $4.8 million to renovate and expand the Pine Hills branch.