The section of the Englewood Government Center that once housed the Northmont Branch Library will be renovated to accommodate additional meeting rooms, additional space for the fire department and a physical fitness workout area for city employees.
Ron Nunnari | The Register-Herald
ENGLEWOOD — With construction of a new Northmont Branch Library, which opened on Jan. 7, 2023, the space the library previously occupied at the Englewood Government Center has been vacant for more than two years.
At its June 11 meeting city council passed Resolution 18-24 to approve the renovation of the former library space consisting of 12,859 square feet located in the rear portion of the government center to serve multiple functions, including additional office space for the fire department.
Fire Station 98 is located on the west side of the government center at 333 W. National Rd.
Section II of the resolution states the estimated cost of the proposed renovation is hereby approved in the amount of $800,000.
Prior to passing the resolution, council approved Bill 24-06 to revise appropriations for current expenses and other expenditures for the current fiscal year that included Fund 308 – Reserve for Capital Improvements that lists the old library remodel at $1,100,000.
In a memo to council, City Manager Eric Smith stated that the renovation of the vacant library space is considered only a guideline since the renovation would be considered a ‘work in progress.’
“This means that the city staff will act as the general contractor and numerous change orders are expected as work progresses,” Smith stated. The memo noted that a project of this nature is extremely difficult to bid as several unknowns are involved in a renovation managed without the assistance of an architect.
“This approach is designed to save money where possible and to produce an attractive and functional final product to everyone’s satisfaction,” Smith said.
The former library space has been vacant for more than two years and there has been no interest expressed to occupy the space by either a commercial or private entity, according to Smith.
“It’s an unusual location and it’s unusual that it’s connected to a government center,” Smith explained when Councilmember Courtney Rietman asked if any other use had been considered for the space other than what has been proposed.
The city intends to utilize the space for multiple functions, including additional office space for the fire department and an additional three meeting rooms for public use as well.
“It’s surprising how much demand there is for meeting spaces,” Smith said. “Even though we have rooms here at the government center and at the Heck Center, there is overflow at times and those three rooms will fulfill that demand for public use.”
The space will also provide space for fire or police personnel to have a larger room for training sessions. The city also encourages its employees to remain physically fit, particularly fire personnel.
The city currently has a physical fitness workout room located in old Fire Station 98 on S. Walnut Street.
“It’s cramped and the equipment needs to be replaced and the area needs to be expanded and it is inconvenient,” Smith said.
All of the workout equipment would be relocated to a corner of the renovated library space to enable personnel to merely walk through the government center to reach the workout space while they are on duty, rather than having to drive over to S. Walnut Street.
“It would be available not only for fire personnel, but also police or any other employee that would like to use it,” Smith stated. “It’s an attribute that would be beneficial for recruitment, but this is largely an expansion for sleeping quarters, office space and trying to deal with people cramped into the existing space so it would provide additional resources.”
Smith noted that the city is fortunate to have that space available. A little known fact is that when the government center was built in 1974, the portion of the building that housed the former Northmont Branch Library was paid for by the city.
“The agreement was that we would supply the space and the library would occupy it and not be charged a rental fee,” Smith pointed out. “They were charged their fare share of utility expenses and maintenance. Not too many years ago they put a new roof on it at their expense. So, we’ve always owned that space. When they moved out and since we need more space it’s fortunate that we can convert that to a useful facility that is going to make a big difference to our departments, but also to the public for additional meeting rooms.”
The service department also needs more space and will use old Station 98 to house equipment that is currently stored outdoors. One of the fire engine bays will also be set aside for the police department if it needs to house a vehicle being held for a court case.
Reach Ron Nunnari at (937) 684-9124 or email [email protected].
