Politics & Government
Look: Briarcliff Community Center Plans Move Along
The village and library are eyeing the construction of the soon-to-be community center as plans are reviewed.
In the above video, Briarcliff Manor Public Library Director Melinda Greenblatt walks through a draft plan for the community center.
"We have near final plans," according to Village Manager Philip Zegarelli. "This is really a reflection of what basically the library of the 21st century is going to look like."
The plans for the two-story center, which will connect to the library, are being reviewed by the Board of Trustees. The board must approve the final iteration of the project before it goes out to bid.
"The plans really reflect what the mayor and the board are looking for in a community center," Zegarelli explained. "An enhancement is that it can also be beyond a community center. It can be a relocation center in times of crisis."
Other uses for the currently vacant space attached to the library could be a warming center in the winter or a cooling center in the summer, according to Zegarelli.
"There's a broadcast facility there and a kitchenette—so that it can be used for all sorts of activities," he said, which can be utilized if Village Hall loses power in a storm and needs to relocate. "The idea is to be more proactive, to look several steps ahead on how…you help residents when you have these type of events."
The village has "set aside" approximately $300,000 for the project so far, Zegarelli said.
"We are funding another $300,000 this year," he added. "The Friends of the Briarcliff Manor Public Library have [also] done some fundraising, but will essentially match what the village has put in."
He expects the Board to sit down with the architect a final time before securing plans by about Labor Day.
"Hopefully," said Zegarelli, "bids will be back in the tail end of September and we start work in October."
The project is also part of a greater effort to make the library campus a more vibrant hub for Briarcliff Manor.
"We have the recreation offices in the basement, the Historical Society is there," Zegarelli pointed out. "We are really making the library, and now the community center, a multi-functional building."
"We have near final plans," according to Village Manager Philip Zegarelli. "This is really a reflection of what basically the library of the 21st century is going to look like."
The plans for the two-story center, which will connect to the library, are being reviewed by the Board of Trustees. The board must approve the final iteration of the project before it goes out to bid.
"The plans really reflect what the mayor and the board are looking for in a community center," Zegarelli explained. "An enhancement is that it can also be beyond a community center. It can be a relocation center in times of crisis."
Other uses for the currently vacant space attached to the library could be a warming center in the winter or a cooling center in the summer, according to Zegarelli.
"There's a broadcast facility there and a kitchenette—so that it can be used for all sorts of activities," he said, which can be utilized if Village Hall loses power in a storm and needs to relocate. "The idea is to be more proactive, to look several steps ahead on how…you help residents when you have these type of events."
The village has "set aside" approximately $300,000 for the project so far, Zegarelli said.
"We are funding another $300,000 this year," he added. "The Friends of the Briarcliff Manor Public Library have [also] done some fundraising, but will essentially match what the village has put in."
He expects the Board to sit down with the architect a final time before securing plans by about Labor Day.
"Hopefully," said Zegarelli, "bids will be back in the tail end of September and we start work in October."
The project is also part of a greater effort to make the library campus a more vibrant hub for Briarcliff Manor.
"We have the recreation offices in the basement, the Historical Society is there," Zegarelli pointed out. "We are really making the library, and now the community center, a multi-functional building."
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