The city has announced receiving $1 million in state and federal grants to rehabilitate the historic Hoboken Public Library at the corner of Fifth Street and Park Avenue.
On Wednesday, library trustees, city officials and architects outlined plans for a two-phase major renovation to the interior and exterior of the building. “This library is a centerpiece of our community which is utilized by everyone from children to senior citizens,” said Mayor David Roberts. “These improvements will provide a more pleasant environment to our residents and most importantly, make it accessible to those with disabilities.”
According to city officials, scaffolding was recently erected around the eastern portion of the building, which includes the signature cupola. Work is underway on the first phase to repair the roof, replace 48 windows, clean and repair masonry and stone, and install waterproofing materials.
Lena Podles, the director of the Hoboken Public Library, said that the leaking roof has been a major problem. She said that it was not an uncommon occurrence that the third floor children’s room would have to be closed because of leaks. Most nights, plastic covers were placed over the books, and on multiple occasions books and other supplies were ruined by water damage. According to city officials, the roof work could be completed as early as June.
The project’s second phase will make the building more accessible to senior citizens and the disabled. Improvements will include an elevator and renovated bathrooms, a refurbished lobby, and a Park Avenue entrance.
There will also be improvements to space once occupied by the Hudson School. After 23 years of living on year-to-year leases in a building attached to the Hoboken Public Library, the 190 students of the private Hudson School moved into their own space in December of 2002. The departure of the Hudson School frees up a substantial amount of space for the library. According to Podles, a portion of the space is already being used for a young-adult room and several other library-related programs.
That phase is currently in the design process, and no timetable as of yet has been established, according to officials.
Poodles said that making the building more accessible to the handicapped, seniors and children is one of the biggest benefits of phase two of the renovations. Currently, there are no elevators, and the front steps are particularly tall, which makes traversing them difficult for seniors and parents with strollers.
“These improvements will finally make the city’s public library accessible for all people in the community; for the handicapped, seniors and small children,” she said.
The entire project will cost approximately $1 million and is being financed by grants obtained by the city’s Office of Grants Management, and by capital bonds. The architectural firm of Rivardo, Schnitzzer and Capazzi has been hired to oversee the renovations.
The Hoboken Public Library was created under the New Jersey General Library Act of 1894 and was the third established under the act, followed by Paterson and Newark. The land was deeded to the city by the Stevens family in 1896, and the facility opened a year later.
Michael Korman, a six-year member of the library’s Board of Trustees, said that the library renovations are a real boon. “We’re going to be able to protect the historic aspects of the building, provide new and expanded programs, and finally conform to all of the requirements for handicap accessibility,” said Korman.