Photo by Katie Turpen.
Library in the Forest
Since opening in 2010, Library in the Forest has had a high volume of patrons. Surplus parking on both sides of Round Hill Road and near residential homes has raised a need for additional parking.
Residents soon won’t have to worry about finding a spot to park at their local library. During its regular January meeting, the Vestavia Hills City Council read a resolution authorizing an agreement with Walter Schoel Engineering Co. to construct additional parking at the Library in the Forest.
“This new library property is vastly different than the older property,” said Lauren Daniel, Executive Director of the Vestavia Hills Library Foundation. “We never anticipated the volume of the patrons we have coming in to the library.”
Daniel said that driving down Round Hill Road with cars parked on either side has become dangerous. When the private residence located at 1421 Round House Road directly beside the library became available last summer, the Foundation began working with the City to make plans to use the property.
During the January meeting, City Manager Jeff Downes said the council bought the former private residence in December, which will be used to build an additional 46 parking spaces. The city also plans to build a privacy wall between the parking area and residential area.
“We hope that this will alleviate excess parking in the surrounding residential areas as well as cut down on traffic hazards,” Daniel said. “We hope that the neighborhood residents will be happy with this decision.”
The total cost of the project is anticipated not to exceed $29,000 and Downes said construction could start as early as late spring. Daniel addressed the council during the January meeting, thanking them for their support in the expansion endeavor.
“We are forever grateful to the city for their hard work on this project that has been a long time in the making,” Daniel said.
Other council agenda items:
• A resolution appointing Jason Rose and Nathan Johnson as members of the Jefferson County Blount-St.-Clair Mental Health Authority Board representing the City of Vestavia Hills.
• A resolution authorizing a special economic development agreement by the City of Vestavia Hills, Alabama and Issis and Sons Furniture Gallery Inc.
• A resolution authorizing a special economic development agreement by the City of Vestavia Hills and Royal Automotive Inc.
· An ordinance granting conditional use approval for a model home located at 4751 Liberty Park Lane for temporary residential sales and administrative offices.
