Jun. 21—MANCHESTER — The decades-long pursuit for a new town library yielded an encouraging update last week, with three sites emerging as potential destinations for a more modern facility.

AT A GLANCE

WHAT: Three sites have emerged as potential destinations for a new town library.

WHERE: Expansion of the Whiton Branch Library, the Forest Street lot at 942 Main St., and the Webster Bank site at 1041 Main St.

NEXT: The Board of Directors must decide by July or early August to bring the library question to a November referendum.

The locations include expanding the Whiton Branch Library in the town's north end, and building new at two possible Main Street locations: the Forest Street parking lot on the west side of downtown, and the Webster Bank block on the east.

The estimated cost for building a new library would be between $35 to $38 million, depending on the location, town and project officials said. Site acquisition costs were not included in the projected figures.

The proposed sites were unveiled as part of preliminary plans presented at last week's Board of Directors meeting. Although the plans are conceptual, their presentation to the public marks a watershed in the saga to upgrade Manchester's main library.

Now, with the framework for a new facility in place, and a profusion of funding sources available to the town — including two state grants and $25 million in federal pandemic relief funds — town officials say they will work to get the library question on the ballot for a November referendum.

In determining potential sites, officials said they kept two amenities at the forefront: finding sizable space to accommodate a variety of uses, and securing adequate parking.

"Everyone that has anything to say about our current library system, and especially Mary Cheney (Library), says we don't have enough parking," General Manager Steve Stephanou said. "We heard that loud and clear."

Officials also want to keep the main branch of the library downtown to provide easy and equitable access, and help boost surrounding businesses. Mary Cheney has stood at its current home on the corner of Main and Center streets since 1937.

Upgrading the Whiton Branch Library on North Main Street would involve renovating and expanding the existing structure, and removing the Community YMCA next door.

Stephanou called the branch an ideal location because it offers ample space and an enticing parking situation. But ultimately the town decided to pivot back to downtown, citing the benefits of that locale.

The first of the two downtown locations is the Forest Street parking lot at 942 Main St., which officials described as a narrow site with limited accessible outdoor space.

The other downtown location — and the leading contender — is the Webster Bank site at 1041 Main St.

In his recommendation to directors, Kevin Kennedy, a partner at HBM Architects, said the Webster Bank site had a more efficient shape to lay out a building compared to the Forest Street lot. Additionally, its prominent location on Main Street would exude a strong presence.

There would be 50 parking spots there — double the amount of the current Mary Cheney Library, Stephanou said. The Forest Street lot across the street would add another 115 parking spots, he said.

"We're really excited about this site," Kennedy said. "They're all very feasible, but this is in particular the best one that we've looked at."

If built at the recommended location, the new library would have three floors, two entrances, and include large meeting rooms, workspace, and a central atrium that opens to the roof, according to the plans laid out at the meeting.

The design of the new library would resemble the architectural character of other buildings on Main Street, with their varying shades and tones of brick. While it would draw inspiration from surrounding buildings, it ultimately would have its own unique identity, officials said.

Officials quickly ruled out expanding Mary Cheney as a potential destination, because it does not have the amenities library officials indicate are necessary for a modern library and parts are not accessible.

"Just as it exists with all the challenges and inability to build up on that site, it's really not an appropriate spot to locate a brand new library," Stephanou said.

The total cost to renovate the Mary Cheney Library would be about $4 million, officials said. Instead, officials suggested repurposing the building for town offices and installing a credit institution. Another option would be transforming it into a cultural center or performance space.

Stephanou said the town could still "utilize the historical character and leverage the gem that Mary Cheney is" by potentially repurposing it.

Throughout the presentation, Stephanou stressed the importance of having the town library remain as an anchor for downtown, highlighting its importance in serving Manchester's most vulnerable neighborhoods on the east and west side.

A downtown library would also be the most accessible for residents. About 51% of Manchester households live within a half-mile of the proposed Webster Bank site, according to U.S. Census Bureau data.

Libraries are economic drivers of activity, officials said, so locating a new library downtown would bring residual profits to businesses. Downtown businesses already benefit from its popularity, officials say. According to a geographic study by the brokerage firm Goman & York, about one-third of Mary Cheney Library visitors make another stop downtown, either before or after their visit.

The Goman & York study highly recommended keeping the library downtown, saying it would generate more traffic and activity in the area, resulting in increased community and economic benefits.

"Despite the age of the facility, we're still a regional draw for people," Director of Planning and Economic Development Gary Anderson said. "People want to come to downtown Manchester to come to our library."

For years, residents have been clamoring for the town to invest in a new library.

The Board of Directors renewed discussions about upgrading the town's library system two years ago. Then in January 2021, the board commissioned a new subcommittee of the Public Library Board — the 21st Century Public Library Task Force — to explore what a new library facility and system would look like.

The task force concluded that sustaining a downtown Main Street connection for the Manchester Public Library, either with a main or branch library, is optimal, and expansion of Mary Cheney Library isn't feasible.

The task force also recommended that the main library be larger than Mary Cheney Library by a factor of three, at roughly 83,000 square feet with adequate parking, flexible space for multipurpose use, private and group meeting and work spaces, and a sustainable "green" design.

The Board of Directors will now digest the information from last week's meeting, and must signal to the town by July or early August whether it wants the library included as a referendum item on the November ballot.