Town Square

Where should the new Atherton library be located?

Original post made by Peter Carpenter, Atherton: Lindenwood, on Mar 28, 2012

There have been numerous Forum Topics on the new Atherton library but none which asked the simple question -

Where should the new Atherton library re located?

I would encourage posters to express both their opinion on this issue and their reasons for that opinion.

For my part I do not yet have a personal position on the new location of the Atherton library but I firmly believe that this issue, involving as it does a permanent change in Atherton's only park (not counting the small park adjacent to the current library) and a divided Town Council, should be put to a vote by the citizens. Hopefully this Forum discussion will offer some insight as to the pros and cons of either locating the new library in Holbrook Palmer Park or keeping it as part of the Town Center.

Comments (7)

Posted by Keep it where it is
a resident of Atherton: Lindenwood
on Mar 29, 2012 at 3:11 pm

Peter,

Although the Town has almost $6M it must use on Library facilities or programs there is no need for the town to turn over valuable park land to the library to spend that money.

Redwood City and Menlo Park have libraries close by.

The existing library could be expanded (second floor or into the Reading Park) and maybe even take over council chambers. Move council meetings into the park or a room in the town center. Or if the library needs an auditorium convert council chambers to an auditorium block off time for civil meetings.

The town and neighboring communities need open space and fields. Save the open space. Where are the existing offices and storage of the Main House going to go?

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Posted by anne
a resident of Atherton: West Atherton
on Mar 30, 2012 at 9:49 pm

What is wrong with the current location?

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Posted by Current Location
a resident of Atherton: Lloyden Park
on Mar 31, 2012 at 9:45 am

Nothing is wrong the current location. It is just that the town has $6M in liibrary reserves and some want to build a new facility in the Park.

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Posted by protect the investment
a resident of Atherton: Lindenwood
on Mar 31, 2012 at 1:32 pm

The location should be one where teh investment is protected. If I was building a $5.5M home and I had two lots of land. One right by the train tracks, which may become threatened given the electrification and HSR expansion, and the other parcel in a location away from this potential threat, I would pick the latter. Our Council has to make sure the town's investment is maintained. The HSR threat is still real and it has to be strongly considered in location planning.

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Posted by Prtotect the Park
a resident of Atherton: Lloyden Park
on Mar 31, 2012 at 3:32 pm

There is more to protecting the investment. First is their a need to spend $5.5M replacing a libraary structure that already exists? Why not spend $2M to upgrade the exisitng library and bank the rest? The council is not getting anything for donating the Park land to be used for a library. Wedding rentals which generate $90,000 a year have been stopped to make way for the Library in the Park. That is not protecting the town's investment.

What needs to be considered is the need for open space in the park.

If the library stays were it is there is no loss of any funds invested to improve it. The improvements will last and people will use the library.

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Posted by Interested
a resident of another community
on Mar 31, 2012 at 4:49 pm

How bout Newark

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Posted by Flood Park or Menlo College
a resident of Menlo Park: Downtown
on Apr 2, 2012 at 8:19 am

Or Flood Park or Co-Build with Menlo College

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