Background to Customize Your Letter

Important to note is that Planning & Zoning passed the Plan of Conservation and Development in 2014.  It’s a document required to be updated and submitted to the state every 10 years. You can find this document on the town website.  It helps to protect buildings like the 1913.

More importantly, in 2010, Planning & Zoning passed the Village District Design Guidelines.  The 1913 Library sits in the Village District. The Village District Design Guidelines protects buildings like the 1913 Library, regardless of who owns them.  You can find this document on the town website. It gets very detailed, like what materials are encouraged, brick is listed, and what materials are discouraged, glass is listed!

Building Description:

There’s been a lot of misinformation repeated about the 1913 Library.  Don’t forget, there’s an actual building sitting there that can be measured and inspected, so the misinformation is shocking.

The New Canaan Library administration has finally agreed that the 1913 Library Building includes the original two rectangles (1) 66x22 (1) 60x24 totaling 2,892 square feet. The floor plan below was published in the paper in 1911.

Printed in the local paper in 1911

As a compromise, we are proposing to go back to the original 1913 building to allow for more green space and better circulation around the 1913.

The 1913 building assessment report, completed by a team that included award winning preservation architects, stated that the building from foundation to roof was in good condition. Beyond expectation.  This initial report was also confirmed by the architectural firm, Crosskey Architects of Hartford. They were selected by P&Z as an independent reviewer.  See there report here.

Work to Repurpose the Building:

We will be adding two unisex toilets meeting ADA requirements and installing a state-of-the-art air flow system which will allow the flow of outdoor air to sweep the interior. And, include exhibition lighting, performace lighting and task lighting.

The visible stones from the 1936 and hidden stones from the remnant west wall of the 1913 will be used to rebuild the missing rear north and south walls. A folding glass curtain wall will replace the rear faing wall, resulting in total flexibility for indoor events for 100 people or outdoor events for hundreds of people.

Itemized Budget:

A complete itemized budget by Architectural Preservation Studio can be found here.  The Crosskey Architects confirmed this budget, but then included a whopping 40% contingency number, bringing it to $1.2 million.  Amazing to think that the 50 foot folding glass curtain can be purchased and shipped to New Canaan for $130,000!  See the manufacturers's video of how it will work!

Moving the Building:

There has been a lot of discussion about the possibility of moving the 1913 building.Moving the building will eliminate its historic value.  It will no longer be eligible to be listed as an historic building in the State of Connecticut, and it will no longer be eligible for state preservation grants towards its repurposing.  It will also be a logistical nightmare.  The library’s construction manager is working on a cost estimate for this move, our estimates put it close to $1 million.  Basically turning a $1.2 million project into a $2.2 million project.  It would be fiscally irresponsible and remove the ability to have the 1913 Library listed as an historic building with the state.

Site Plan 

The re-purposed 1913 Library building creates a Library campus with the green linking the Town's past and its future while respecting the environment.  These two buildings can have a wonderful aesthetic rapport.

Is there asbestos: 

The New Canaan Library asbestos report is for the demolition of the entire existing library building.  Significant asbestos was found in the 1970s addition, very little in the 1913.  Most other buildings in town, built in the same time frame (1911, 1912, 1913) have had little to no asbestos.

ADA Compliance:

The two unisex bathrooms will be ADA compliant.  Now that the 1913 Library will be part of the Library and its Campus no additional ADA parking will be required.  The Library's landscape architects will create a pathway connection between the two building.

Next Steps

Please consider these facts when writing your letters, and please include a letter to the New Canaan Library Board as well!

The New Canaan Library has said they are focussing on preservation of the 1913 now that they have started construction on the new building.  Let's remind them that we want the 1913 Library to stand, in situ, as part of the Library Campus.