The Kanawha County Public Library board voted Monday to hire a firm to search for a new location for its main branch, which is currently at the corner of Capitol and Quarrier streets.
West Virginia Commercial, a Charleston-based company led by former state senator and current state Public Service Commission member Brooks McCabe, will be paid $10,000 up front to help the library system find a new location somewhere within Charleston.
"The sites may include properties that are vacant, properties with buildings that might be demolished, or existing buildings that might be appropriate for renovation," the agreement states.
The company may receive another $10,000 upon completion of the site selection process or could, if a year elapses, be hired to continue trying to find a site for a $1,500-per-month rate, though if the firm successfully helps secure the library a site, it's entitled to a commission instead of the $10,000.
The company will work with an architectural firm to choose the top three possible locations to present to the library system. The system hasn't chosen an architectural firm yet, though its board members are meeting Nov. 21 to interview four finalists out of nine firms that expressed interest. The board chose West Virginia Commercial out of three firms that applied for help with selecting a site.
The board has abandoned its roughly $40 million, 120,000-square-foot original building concept, with members concluding it was too pricey given the fact the system has only raised about $14 million in private money and pledges, and no other public agencies seem willing to donate.
Board President Cheryl Crigger Morgan has said a $20 million project now seems more reasonable. The previous concept was to be located on the corner of Lee Street and Leon Sullivan Way near the Clay Center.