Library referendum OKd in landslide vote

Joseph Villanova, Journal Inquirer, Manchester, Conn.
·1 min read

Nov. 9—MANCHESTER — Voters overwhelmingly approved Tuesday a referendum to build a new 75,000 square-foot library on Main Street for $39 million.

Preliminary vote totals from Tuesday night show 13,185 in favor of the referendum, and 6,670 against.

The vote authorizes the town to bond up to $39 million for construction of a library at 1041 Main St., as well as make repairs to the existing Mary Cheney Library at 586 Main St. for reuse of the building.

The funding includes all associated building and design costs, as well as site acquisition. Officials have said the property where the new library is to be built is currently owned by Webster Bank, who is looking to downsize but remain in the area.

Officials have said taxpayers will not be responsible for the full $39 million, with the town already allocating $5.5 million from the state to the project and expecting at least $1 million in grants, among other potential funding sources.

In 2012, voters narrowly rejected a referendum to bond $12.5 million for a 10,000 square-foot expansion of the Mary Cheney Library.

Detractors said the project would have adversely affected downtown Main Street by building into Center Memorial Park.

Joseph covers Manchester and Bolton for the Journal Inquirer.