New Canaan: Do Not Vote Our 1913 Library Out of the MOU

Dear Town Council,

I am writing to you requesting that you do NOT vote Section 1.08 The 1913 Building out of the “Public-Private Partnership Agreement New Public Library Building” between the Town of New Canaan and the New Canaan Library that acknowledges that a “group of concerned citizens has expressed interest in preserving the 1913 Building”, allows time for “a viable and funded plan for preservation of the 1913 Building”, and requires that, if these conditions are met, that the “the Library will incorporate the preservation of the 1913 Building into the Building Project”.

The Board of Selectman unanimously included 1913 in this agreement in response to the groundswell of residents and former residents who want the historic library to remain at the corner of Cherry and Main Street where it has been for over a hundred years.

After listening to the discussion about 1913 at the last TC meeting, I would like to clarify a few points:

1. The 1913 Building is 3636 square feet and is in excellent condition. It appears that there is some confusion over the difference between the 1913 Building and subsequent library additions from the 1950’s and 1970’s that the library has not properly maintained, and failed to address ongoing maintenance of along with appropriate mitigation solutions. Please see a building condition report for ONLY the 1913 Building and please familiarize yourselves with the difference between 1913 and the rest of the library complex: https://newcanaanpreservationalliance.org/original-1913-library-conditions-report/.
2. Scores of New Canaan residents, present and past, have donated to capital improvements to the New Canaan Library for over one hundred years. Keeping track of letter writers who are NOT New Canaan residents misses the point that preservation is an issue with multiple stakeholders and residents, and former residents, who would like preservation to be supported in our town. That being said, New Canaan Residents have contributed over 44 million dollars to the New Canaan Library since 1994. Thus, we are counting on our elected representatives to represent our best interests and protect and preserve the character of our New England town.
3. This is NO reason to take action on Section 1.08 at this time as Planning and Zoning hears the New Canaan Library 400 page plus application and evaluates presentations on the significance of the 1913 building, as well as alternative plans like Keith Simpson and Associates “Saving 1913” plan, which is the ONLY plan that acknowledges the importance of keeping our residents of all abilities, including small children and senior citizens, safe and comfortable by providing on-site handicap parking along with accessible surfaces for enjoyment of all activities that could take place on the library grounds.
4. Granting the New Canaan Library CEO, New Canaan Library Chairman of the Board and New Canaan Library Legal counsel the ability to present their point of view of the agreement (Section 1.08) to the Town Council and all town residents in a public meeting, including legally advocate for removing Section 1.08 from the agreement, is not in the best interests of all New Canaan taxpayers and residents who are significant stakeholders with regards to saving the 1913 historic library. It is very concerning that 1913 Supporters were not included in this public meeting and had no chance to address incorrect, misleading, non-factual statements, opinions, feelings, and flawed arguments in the discussion of 1913.
5. All past votes taken on the 1913 building by the Town Council do not preclude the group from changing course in more full support of preserving the historic library despite pressure from the New Canaan Library and their legal team to abandon the building.
6. Kirk and Co Feasibility study, presented to the Town Council last September, identified multiple potential uses for the building and uses that would allow the building to be self-sustaining. Unrestricted public access to the 1913 Building is our preferred use and reflects stakeholders’ preference as well.
7. Donors have expressed interest in funding a plan to save the 1913 Building and it is clear that the community will come together, financially, to save our historic library. It is unfair to abandon the building because funds have not yet been raised for a building owned by another entity. Would you donate to that? Keeping 1913 in the agreement signals to potential donors that 1913 is here to stay, and has town government support. Please do not say “they’ve had two years” to save this building as it does not accurately reflect the lack of town government support for preserving 1913 and how donors perceive this lack of support, not to mention the ethical issues in fundraising for a building this is teetering on the edge of planned destruction from a group whose majority of annual operating monies come from the town of New Canaan, the New Canaan Library.

In sum, I urge the Town Council to leave Section 1.08 in this agreement. Voting to delete Section 1.08 unfairly targets this historic building, any group trying to save this building, fails to represent all New Canaan taxpayers and stakeholders, and prioritizes a private entity over the public will.

Respectfully submitted,

Kimberly Norton

1913 Supporter