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http://www.omniture.com --> Email Story to a Friend June 12, 2006 Talent library work begins By Buffy Pollock for the Mail Tribune TALENT — Signs of progress toward the city's new library are only the first wave of significant development headed for downtown in coming months. The new library, to eventually be joined with an overall civic area, began construction in recent weeks, which created excitement and anticipation in the tiny existing library next-door on I Street. Patricia Remencuis, treasurer for Friends of the Talent Library, said library staff and patrons were thrilled at discovering hard-hat workers, chain-link fence and construction equipment starting the new library's footprint over the past week. "The bulldozers are there and they've dug out the foundation and are laying gravel," Remencuis said. "It's thrilling to think we're finally getting closer to having our new library. We can't wait until its time to move in." Among the final tier of library projects being completed with a $39 million bond, passed by county voters in 2000, the proposed 7,083-square-foot structure will triple the existing library. The new structure is being built on the site of the city's old firehouse, next-door to its 2,305-square-foot predecessor. Once built, the $1.6 million project will share a commons area tied to other civic buildings, including a new City Hall, expected to break ground this summer, and a large park area with restrooms, playground equipment and parking. Having expected the library to break ground in April, south region library manager Anne Billeter said she, too, was overjoyed to finally see work begin. "A week ago last Friday, I drove up to go to a meeting — it was my first time in Talent in about a week — and there was a chain-link fence up around the area where the new library will be," she said. "A week later I was there and the hole was basically the shape of our new library. Finally it feels like it's really going to happen." As for an overall theme — all libraries in the region were designed by community members to ensure they "matched" their hometown — Billeter said Talent's library will not sport a particular theme, rather a feel of a community focal point. "During initial design discussion, we felt there wasn't a particular architectural style that defined Talent," Billeter said. "But what we did feel was that the building itself was going to be awfully large. The architects did a spectacular job of creating a space that feels like it really flows inside but outside, it has the look and feel of several smaller community buildings with multiple rooflines. It will really fit into the new downtown." Billeter said, as with similar groups in other communities, Friends of the Talent Library was instrumental in fundraising for construction add-ons. "They got four separate grants and a chunk of money from Talent Urban Renewal," she added. "We'll be able to have two meeting rooms, an enlarged children's area, a study room and a designated teen space because of their efforts." As for a new City Hall — voters shot down a bond in 2004 but the Talent Urban Renewal Agency has set aside $2 million for the first building phase — City Manager Betty Wheeler said construction could begin by July. The first phase will help to construct the 7,596 square-foot office section of the building. Both the new library and the City Hall project are being coordinated by Adroit Construction of Ashland. "Our project, construction on City Hall, should start in late July or August. It's going to be hectic here this summer but it's going to be worth it," Wheeler said. "The new library is just the start of a list of good things to come." Buffy Pollock is a freelance writer living in Medford. E-mail her at [email protected]. Advertisement s Mail Tribune Home | Local News | Sports | Business | Obituaries | Life | Opinion AP News | Archives | Site Map | Community | Classified Copyright © 1997-2006 Mail Tribune, Inc. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms & Conditions | Website Feedback www.bingo.com Home Security Systems Trunks, Footlocker Custom Build Computers Discount Hotel Reservations --> online casinos news Ashley Furniture HomeStore Send Flowers California Casinos GMAT Prep Windermere Van Vleet Sports Equipment Online Casino Reviews Entertainment Guide --> Online Casino Fundraisers Sudoku Online Casinos Canada Online Pharmacy