From the comment section of a library post:
"Mr Foohey, tell us in your infinite wisdom what you would do to make the library relevant and move into the future. Fill us in oh divine one."
I would love to tackle this issue. I don't think the relevance of the library is at issue here. Any library that is part of the community, part of a larger library system, and part of an educational institution is relevant. How it moves into the future is a wildly different story. For those of you that are not familiar with the Chesco Library system, there are 18 branches within the system. Only one other library, besides Phoenixville, has no parking. That branch is West Chester. West Chester gets a fraction of the use that Phoenixville does because it is a lot smaller.
I believe the Library needs to expand. It should expand within the confines of the property it currently owns or embark on a property acquisition plan to expand the property it currently owns. I believe that the Borough should do as much as it can to help the Library. The Borough and the Library need to deal with the parking issue. A garage is not possible unless we consider the Lutheran Church parking lot. I would suggest reworking angled parking along Reeves park or even consider a 20 or 30 space lot within the park (It could come in handy as a staging area for the Dogwood Week). Some parking, that's all. As it stands, they are only adding to the problem.
If the Library cannot handle raising funds for property acquisition, should we trust that it will be able to meet operating costs for the expanded facility? I would rather see an added level to a building on the existing lot. 2nd Ave does not need to be closed. It is the easy way out. This situation is classic Phoenixville. A non profit comes in for something and they have this great sense of entitlement, as if their plans came down from God. Because they act as if they deserve special treatment, Council falls all over themselves to give up the farm. The only one I can remember Council pinching was Friendship Fire Company. They wanted to build on their own land and Council fought it. When the Library wants to build on public right of way, they hand it right over.
A sattelite location is not possible. Closing 2nd ave is ridiculous. Draw up alternatives and allow the developer and the Borough to hash out the parking problem with a little common sense (ie hire an outside consultant).
I am glad that I could solve the problem.
9 comments
Come up with a better plan.
But I'm not the one levying out criticism to the people who are obviously professionals (aka Eustice) and then saying I could come up with a better plan. Talk about a simpleton plan.... making a parking lot on part of the park is about as creative as the art on my refrigerator. I kinda thought you may have some interesting ideas since you sound somewhat intelligent but you just proved that your ego is way bigger than your ability. Seriously, you just sounded like the biggest ass that you ever made fun of. Maybe you should remove this thread before any other readers see it and save face. I won't tell anyone.
Now I will say it a bit different . . . . .Fuck You and come up with a better plan. You need to rework the parking along the park if you are going to allow an expansion of the library. That is 250,000 trips to the library a year (and according to the library's survey, 75% of the visits are car visits.) Now if angled parking is created along 2nd ave (which will mean expanding parking into the park) you will increase some of the available spots for the library visits. What it will also provide would be the much needed staging areas for the Dogwood festival. Unless you like walking at a snails pace, single filed down the vendor alley. Is it fair to ask the residents of the surrounding neighborhood to put up with a parking nightmare?
If a much used public street ROW is being considered for dedication to a private entity, there are no sacred cows in this Borough. Besides, the Council has ignored Reeves park for the past 10 years.
You can continue to call me names and such, but read the zoning ordinances and tell me how they meet their parking requirements without some drastic measures or actually purchasing property.
Sorry, I touched a nerve man, relax. Jeesh! Besides that I did say I agree with reworking the angled parking and such, so back the fuck off dude. I just think the building up idea and the parking lot in the park is amateurish at best (and it is). Look, kudos for trying but don't bust the Eustices balls so much because at least its professional. You're stepping out of your league with the planning ideas, but you continue to bust the balls of the people who are trying to come up with "real" professional plans. There's more to consider besides the fucking stupid sanctity of some street that means "zero" if there is an empty building on the corner because a bunch of numnuts didn't want to expand the library. Come on, and think for yourself and stop trying to be a rebel. It's not becoming and you don't do it well.
The library and the park are so hot for each other, they won't be able to wait til their wedding day. Just like baby Palin and Levi, they will just do it in the road. Well before a wedding day actually occurs, the library by virtue of her dalliances will surprise us. I have it from the East Ward psychic that the actual street (having laid low all these years) will get the goodies before she makes it to the edge of the Park. Out will pop a litter of bookmobiles right there on Second Avenue. Thanks to lust which only few can know of (huda thunk it?) we will have a fleet of little mobile libraries who can run hither and yon throughout these parts of Chester County so the kids can learn important facts like the role Adolf Hitler's construction of the Berlin wall in the holocaust. We can call off the wedding at the last minute, we'll just be out for the fees for the wedding planner and the guy who writing the prenup.
I will say it to you as I have said to others, youdon't know me or what my background is. I will not "back the fuck off, dude", it is my blog.
Have a nice night!
Those who are opposed to the library expansion claim it is for the good of community not just NIMBYism. Where is their outcry about this then? - http://www.phoenixvillenews.com/articles/2009/04/18/opinion/srv0000005144011.txt
Hmmmm, I wonder..... Oh because the effects of this expansion don't affect their neighborhood.
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