Wednesday, August 30, 2017
By Justin Wier
YOUNGSTOWN
The architect leading construction on a new West Side branch of the Public Library of Youngstown and Mahoning County expects the project to come in on schedule and under budget.
“I think it’s rainbows, butterflies and unicorns out there,” said Ron Faniro of Faniro Architects.
Faniro, who is leading construction on the Michael Kusalaba branch at 2815 Mahoning Ave., provided the update at a meeting of the library’s building and sites commission Tuesday morning.
The project was budgeted at $2.8 million with a completion date of Dec. 20.
The committee approved entering into a $51,867 contract with Executive Landscaping Inc. of Vienna to landscape the branch, which is $11,000 less than the library’s estimated cost of $63,000 for the work.
The landscaping will include a grove of nine maple trees which the Rocky Ridge Neighbors association can tap for maple syrup when they mature. The Rocky Ridge Neighbors tap maple trees in Mill Creek MetroParks each year and sell the syrup to raise money for the park and other initiatives. It offers the library the opportunity to provide educational sessions to teach people how to tap maple trees, Faniro said.
Interim Director Susan Merriman also updated the committee on the search for an architect for the branch in Campbell’s proposed Activity, Recreation and Cultural Center.
Campbell City School District plans to approve its architect at a Sept. 26 meeting, Merriman said. The library also will hire its own architect to provide input on things including the exterior of the building and parking.
The ARCC is slated for a fall 2019 opening.
In the meantime, the library will have a temporary branch in Campbell schools’ D’Amato Fieldhouse at 280 Sixth St.
The branch will operate out of a 12-foot-by-20-foot alcove in the fieldhouse lobby from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Thursday beginning Sept. 11. It will include three public-access computers.
There will be a book drop and patrons can pick up books on hold.