For a large part of the last decade, Margaret Grazioli, the former director of the Secaucus Public Library, held out hope she would live to see the expansion of the library she headed for more than 35 years. The issue was discussed again and again in the early 1980s and the trustees managed to bring plans to the table in the early 1990s that would have helped transform the 1950s library into one that would better meet the needs of the 21st century. But even as the trustees prepared to move ahead, a disastrous local economy and political infighting snatched Grazioli’s dream away, leaving it unrealized at the time of her death in 1998. This week, under the leadership of Grazioli’s successor, Library Director Katherine Steffens, the trustees voted to accept a plan that would not merely renovate the old library, but build an entirely new building at an entirely new site. And if all goes well, Secaucus could see a ground-breaking of a new $2.9 million dollar building at 1377 Paterson Plank Road by May or June. “We were hoping to start construction by March,” said Mayor Dennis Elwell. “But that doesn’t seem possible now.” Architect John Capazzi presented the plans to new building to the library trustees at the Jan. 18 meeting, and the trustees voted to accept them with minor changes, thus passing the issue onto the Town Council who will prepare bid specifications over the next few weeks. Capazzi said the existing building, a warehouse located at 1377 Paterson Plank Road, would be demolished, and in its place, a new two-storied structure would be constructed. The town purchased the property in 1998 with the aim of possibly constructing a firehouse there, a concept rejected by the Town Council last June after then-Councilman Elwell expressed some concerns over the overall cost lack of parking at the old library site. “I think these plans for a new library are something Secaucus has long deserved,” Mayor Elwell said at the Jan. 18 meeting. “This will do nothing but well for the town and add a possible business resource center the town currently lacks. It is a big step, but I think it is a step we need to take.” For library officials, the need for increased space has been an ongoing issue since the 1980s, although concrete plans for expansion have been on a roller coaster since the first set of plans was reviewed in December, 1992. In 1993, the issue took on a political slant as some candidates said the library should be moved rather than expanded at the current location in the Plaza section of town. Last year the town bonded $2.5 million for the purchase of the land and the construction of the firehouse and paid about $1 million for the land. But it wasn’t until July that the move was authorized by the council after they decided to do away with plans to build a new fire house at 1377 Paterson Plank Road, and instead, build a new library there. In July, library trustees voted to combine their own $1.1 million with the town’s $1.4 million with hopes that the money would be enough to construct a new library. The new plans presented to the board this week would include construction and furnishings in the $2.9 million estimate. Mayor Elwell said this falls into line with estimates made earlier this year. The original idea was to construct the building closer to Paterson Plank Road with parking in the rear, but Capazzi said because of the rising grade of land, the building was placed at the rear of the property. The new building provides 71 parking spots as opposed to the 13 that exist at the current library building on Plaza Drive. The existing library has been under pressure by the Hackensack Meadowlands Development Commission to supply more parking. The plans as presented would require no variances, although the project must be presented to the HMDC for its approval. Steffens, who said the plans would have some minor alterations, asked that a walkway be established for children to keep them from walking through the parking lot. Mayor Elwell said he had a discussion with the owner of an extended care facility soon to be constructed right behind the new library, and said a walkway could be provided to allow people to access the library on foot from Flanagan Way. He said it might even be possible to negotiate an agreement that would allow car access to the library via a driveway. Capazzi said the exterior of the building would have brick facing on the lower level with stucco above. The new library would have a drop-off area near the front door. The current library has no such facility, and patrons often have blocked the single-traffic lane to drop off books. The main entrance to the new facility would be located in the center, with a vestibule area closed off from the main library. This would allow access to the second floor by elevator and stairs for public meetings held after library hours. The main floor would have a children’s section to the north and adult’s section to the south, with the main desk situated in the middle. The children’s area would have 12 computer stations, book stacks area, reference area, and an exit to an outdoor reading area at the north end of the building. The new facility would also provide a children’s multi-purpose room. The adult section would have 48 computer stations, a periodical area, main book stack area, reading and reference table areas, two storage areas, and an outdoor reading area in the front of the building just south of the main entrance. The second level of the building would have a 1,200 square foot meeting room that can accommodate 170 people seated in rows of chairs or about 90 people around tables. This room would have a small kitchen off of it as well as a handicapped-accessible toilet. That floor will contain mainly reference materials and small quiet-study rooms. The second floor will also have an administrative office and offices for the staff.
Our Digital Archive from 2000 – 2016
