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Library task force to discuss architect’s site evaluations today
By Carey King
Members of the Library Task Force will meet at 3 p.m.today (Thursday) in Room A-227 of the Justice Center to discuss Sylva architect Odell Thompson’s recent evaluations of the group’s top three picks for a new library site.
As requested by the task force, Thompson assessed an area on Grindstaff Cove near Jackson Plaza Shopping Center, land near Bicentennial Park owned by the Mack Hooper family, and the old Sylva School site in Mark Watson Park.
In presenting his findings July 6, Thompson said he needed more information – including purchase prices for the Grindstaff and Hooper properties and the cost of sidewalks from downtown to each site – before making a final recommendation.
County Manager Ken Westmoreland is expected to provide those figures at today’s meeting.
While Thompson has yet to give his formal endorsement to any of the sites, he did say that the Grindstaff Cove location appears to be the easiest site to build and expand on.
“If you have an area that has some amazingly beautiful sites and sites that are not so beautiful, I’m of the opinion that you should go to the parts that need help,” Thompson said. “I would say that Jackson Plaza needs help.”
Task force members made little comment following Thompson’s presentation, saying they needed time to review the information before discussion.
“We need to chew on this,” task force Chairman and County Commissioner Joe Cowan said.
Other members of the group are County Commissioners’ Chairman Stacy Buchanan, Sylva Mayor Brenda Oliver, Sylva Board Member Maurice Moody, Westmoreland and Sylva Manager Richard McHargue.
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