|
Town likely to sell William St. library
By John J. Hopkins Times
A former library branch on William Street, closed by the Buffalo and Erie County Public Library during budget cutbacks in 2005, will be placed up for sale after a study determined that the building is not needed by the town.
Supervisor James J. Jankowiak said that he hopes a request for proposal document can be prepared by the town's law department in time to be considered by the town board at its July 16 meeting.
A space and needs study performed by the town indicates that the 7,200 square-foot building should be considered surplus.
"There is no benefit to the Town of Cheektowaga to keep that building," Jankowiak told the Times on Wednesday. "We have more than enough office space and there's no benefit to make that another (town) satellite."
Members of the William Street Taxpayers Association had opposed selling the building, hoping that the building could be used by the town or as a community center.
Jankowiak said he hopes that the building would be sold to a commercial entity so that the property could be placed on the town's tax rolls.
"My goal is to increase the tax revenue," Jankowiak stated. "I'd like to see someone there that would service the community, such as a dentist's office or a doctor's office."
According to Jankowiak, realtors will examine the facility to determine its value.
Jankowiak said that money from selling the building will be used to repair and maintain current townowned buildings.
"That way we don't have to go to the taxpayer," Jankowiak said.
Jankowiak said that if a resolution seeking the request for proposal isn't ready for the July 16 meeting, he may schedule a special town board meeting to pass the resolution.
The South Branch was closed in October 2005, and the North Branch on Maryvale Drive was closed the following month. They were among several library branches that were closed across Erie County. The Depew Library was also among the other closed facilities.
Ownership of the William Street and Maryvale Drive buildings reverted to the town when they were closed. The Maryvale site has since been converted into a records center for the town.
There are two libraries remaining in Cheektowaga, the Reinstein Library on Harlem Road at Town Park and the Julia Boyer Reinstein Library on Losson Road.
| 
