In early 2023, Chesterfield Township officials approached the Library, proposing the idea of using the Sugarbush Elementary School community center as a potential location for library services. This concept, which has been in existence for some time, gained momentum when the Anchor Bay School District approved selling the building to the Township.
In response to the Township's request and recognizing the potential benefits of a new location, we committed to exploring the idea in good faith. The promise was to investigate whether this could offer improved library services and a better location, possibly at a lower cost than constructing a new building.
As the concept transitioned from something abstract to a decision that needed to be made, numerous uncertainties surfaced. We didn't have information about the condition of the building, its suitability for a public library, or the potential cost implications. In light of these unknowns, the board commissioned the architectural firm Quinn Evans to conduct a thorough study and provide answers to these questions.
The Library Board voted not to pursue Sugarbush Elementary as a potential future home for the Chesterfield Township Library. After reviewing architectural and engineering reports from Quinn Evans and Peter Basso Associates, the Board concluded that the quality of the library the public would receive would not justify the estimated $10.4 million it would cost to convert the elementary school into a library facility.