A drawing of the proposed Alleghany Library was revealed Monday.

Library unveils first drawings of proposed new building

Alleghany Public Library architect Andrew Lopina offered up drawings of the proposed new Alleghany County Library Monday night during a meeting of the Alleghany County Commission. Lopina also described the new library building prior to a unanimous 4-0 vote by the commission to move forward with a bond referendum for the library after a public hearing on the issue.

Commission Chair Eldon Edwards was absent from the meeting; Vice Chair J. Warren Taylor ran the meeting in his absence.

Thanks to the vote, the bond question that was approved Monday night will be on the fall ballot. County Manager Don Adams said the issue will be a ‘yes' or ‘no' question on whether or not $2 million in bonds should be issued towards the construction of the library.

Numerous library supporters and Historical and Genealogical Society members attended the meeting to show their support for the project. Several of the library's junior friends group, which has helped raise some of the first funds for the building, also attended the meeting.

According to an estimate dated Aug. 7 by Lopina's architecture firm, Thomas H. Hughes Architecture, the project will cost an estimated $2,760,900, of which $2,482,400 is for the construction of the new 15,515 square-foot building, including furniture fixtures and equipment. Lopina said the square footage would nearly triple the size of the existing library. The cost estimate puts the building cost at $160 per square foot. Other costs include $125,000 in architectural fees, $3,500 in surveying and testing fees and $150,000 in contingency fees.

Since the bond issue will, if approved, furnish up to $2 million, the library board has agreed to raise the additional needed funds to build the structure.

The proposed new building contains space for historical displays by the historical society measuring about 1,500 square feet. Lopina said that space would be visible from within the library, as well as outside via ‘storefront' style display windows.

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