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September 13, 2010

Belvidere groups leader suggest keeping Warren County library headquarters in town

Sunday, September 12, 2010
By BILL WICHERT
The Express-Times.com
BELVIDERE | The leader of two tourism groups is calling on Warren County officials to expand the county library headquarters in Belvidere instead of moving to a new facility outside the county seat.

Victoria M. Meghdir said the headquarters supports the downtown area and that relocating it would be a disservice. Meghdir is president of Belvidere Arts & Events Inc. and acting chairwoman of the Belvidere Economic Development/Tourism Committee.

"Why not improve the beautiful town that we already have?" Meghdir said last week. "It's part of the vitality and beauty and charm of the town."

County officials argue that that proposal wouldn't work given the potential costs involved at the 199 Hardwick St. location and the fact that Belvidere isn't even part of the county library system.

"Being here is of no use to the residents of Belvidere at all," said Warren County Library Director Maureen Baker Wilkinson, adding that the library should be in a more central location. "There's no reason for us to be in this location."

Belvidere proposal

In an Aug. 24 letter to county officials, Meghdir said an addition could be built on what is now a parking lot. A parking garage then could be constructed behind a building along Race Street, Meghdir said.

The cost of renovating the headquarters and building the addition and the parking garage would be less expensive than constructing a library complex elsewhere, Meghdir wrote.

Maintaining the headquarters in Belvidere also would support the state's initiatives of "keeping resources in the downtown area, enhancing existing infrastructure and revitalizing the center of town rather than using open spaces and incurring exorbitant costs," Meghdir wrote.

"We hope that you will seriously consider this solution which supports the state's efforts to promote smart growth and sustainability, rather than excessive spending and the continued erosion of small town life," Meghdir continued in her letter.

Posted by tumulty at September 13, 2010 11:52 AM

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