After more than a year of searching for the right
site to build a new library to replace the Belt Branch, Rolling Hills Library
has a contract under review and
work has started on building plans. If all goes well, the new branch could be
open by early 2026.
The site is in the new development where the
University of Missouri-Kansas City also plans to build a School of Medicine
facility at the east end of Faraon Street, across from Mosaic Life Care.
Library Director Michelle Mears said the library
was seeking a piece of ground that was accessible, affordable and relatively
flat to minimize site preparation costs. The location also had to be in the
library’s taxing district.
“It took us quite a while to find this piece of
land,” she said. “It drew our attention because of other development in that
area.”
The four-acre lot will be at the end of a new road
to be built south of Faraon into the development. The building will be located
near the east side of the lot so it will be visible from Riverside Road.
The project calls for a 36,000-square-foot
building that houses the library, Bookmobile office and garage, Administration
Office and the Friends of the Library’s used bookstore, Books Revisited. The
estimated building project cost is $16 million.
“We have over half of that amount in reserves and
will issue certificates of participation to fund the remaining amount,” Mears
said.
Sapp Design Architects of Kansas City is the
project architect and was chosen for its experience with libraries. The firm
has designed more than 25 new libraries and library renovations in Missouri and
Kansas, with the majority of those in the Kansas City area.
J.E. Dunn Construction of Kansas City is the construction-manager-at-risk. It will work with Sapp through the design process to create the best plans and build the library at a guaranteed maximum price. The contract with Dunn includes a goal for local contractors to be used for at least 40 percent of the project.
After the new library is built, the library-owned Rolling Hills Plaza strip mall where the Belt Branch, Administration Offices and Books Revisited are currently located will be sold. “It should be an attractive investment for someone who wants to own retail space,” Mears said.
More information about the new library project is available at https://rhcl.org/building-project.
