Photo courtesy of Vestavia Hills Library in the Forest
Children and adults play a game at the Vestavia Hills Library in the Forest on Dec. 3, 2022.
The Vestavia Hills City Council plans to have a work session on Monday, Jan. 12, to discuss plans for a new eastside library at the Sicard Hollow Athletic Complex and potential ways to finance that and other projects there.
The work session is scheduled for 5:30 p.m. in the council chambers at Vestavia Hills City Hall.
The City Council in December hired CMH Architects to design a new 25,000-square-foot police operations building and 4,800-square-foot maintenance building at the SHAC but held off on hiring Williams Blackstock Architects to do a feasibility study, concept design and space programming study for a library facility.
City officials have said they want to further discuss what types of spaces and programs are needed at a library facility. Surveys and talks with people in the Liberty Park area have revealed a desire not only for easier access to library materials, but also a place for community meetings and events.
City Manager Jeff Downes said the city’s financial advisor and bond counsel also will be present to discuss financing options for the library, police building and maintenance building.
The new facilities planned for the Sicard Hollow Athletic Complex are expected to cost about $25 million and be funded with borrowed money. The council voted to hire Rice Advisory to continue providing public financing guidance to the city in conjunction with that effort.
