The City of Foley is clearing land for the new public library, which is expected to be completed in 2025. However, the City stated it plans to keep as many trees as possible on properties impacted.
The 40,000-square-foot facility will be twice as big as the current library building.
The City demolished a home on East Rose Avenue this week to move the Symbol Health Clinic to that spot, so construction can begin on East Orange Avenue, where the clinic currently sits. The dilapidated home was vacant.
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“We evaluated very closely, and it would have been a tremendous amount of money to rehab this building,” Foley Mayor Ralph Hellmich said. “We also looked, and it wasn’t historic or anything like that. So it needs to go this way.”
The new library will include an expanded children’s area offering computers and an activity room. The two-story building will also have meeting space, an auditorium, computer labs, study rooms, a café and a bookstore.
Construction is slated to start later this year.
To connect with the author of this story or to comment, email erica.thomas@1819news.com.
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