« Library sponsors help for unemployed | Main | Monroe Township set to open new expanded library »

October 19, 2009

County gives $325G for restoration, expansion of Perth Amboy library

By SUZANNE C. RUSSELL • STAFF WRITER • October 18, 2009

PERTH AMBOY — Perth Amboy got a financial boost from Middlesex County in its efforts toward a $9 million restoration and expansion of the city's 106-year-old library.

Middlesex County has awarded the city a $325,000 grant from the open space, recreation and farmland and historic preservation trust fund to prepare a preservation plan and specifications for restoring the city's historic Carnegie library.

The award was unanimously approved Thursday, Oct. 15, by members of the Middlesex County Board of Freeholders in attendance, according to the clerk of the board's office.
“This is a big boost for the city and the library,” said Karen Kubulak, chair of the Celebrate Perth Amboy/Save Our Carnegie Library organization which is working to raise funds to restore and expand the Jefferson Street library.

She said some of the funds may be used to file a preservation plan with state, which costs $45,000 to $60,000.
“That's why we're so grateful to the county,” said Kubulak who attended the freeholder meeting with Mayor Wilda Diaz and Barbara Sottilaro, president of the library's Board of Trustees.
“It (the funds) allow us to move forward with the architectural specifications,” said Kubulak, adding that work needs to be done before the project can go out for bid. “It will start the whole process.”
The save our library organization and city also are working to have the library designated on the state and national register of historic places.

Since last week when plans were announced for a Tuesday, Oct. 20, Save Our Carnegie Library reception fund raiser, Kubulak said she's heard from architects interested in the project as well as a bank inviting the organization to apply for foundation funds.
Although sales of the $50 tickets to Tuesday's fundraiser have been slow, Kubulak is hopeful people will walk in that day to buy tickets. Members of the freeholder board, Perth Amboy Chamber of Commerce and city teachers have been invited to attend. Tickets will be available at the door.
“I know in this economy it's hard,” said Kubulak. “Hopefully they will file in. I'm trying to be positive.

Sottilaro earlier this week said the renovation and expansion project will need “big money.”
“If we aspire to be a first class city, we need a first class library,” said Sottilaro, who has long advocated for the restoration of the library.
The Perth Amboy Public Library was built in 1901 with funds from the Andrew Carnegie Foundation. It opened two years later. The building is structurally sound, but has not been well maintained.The roof leaks, plaster on the walls is crumbling. It also does not comply with the Americans With Disabilities Act.

A feasibility study conducted by architect Dennis Kowal set the cost to protect and expand the Jefferson Street library at $7.85 million. Furnishings would increase the price tag to $9 million.

Posted by tumulty at October 19, 2009 12:56 PM

Comments

Post a comment