The Fulton County Board of Commissioners will revisit the issue of whether to save the Buckhead library branch at its current location or to accept a new offer from Ben Carter Properties at its regular board meeting July 2.
The new offer from Carter is to build a replica of the present library at a new Buckhead location, possibly at the northeast corner of East Paces Ferry Road and Maple Drive, several blocks east of the present library location on Buckhead Avenue.
Carter does not own the alternative site, just under 2 acres, but the owner is apparently willing to sell the property.
Carter has offered about $24 million for the existing library because it is in the way of his plans for The Streets of Buckhead mixed-use project. Carter reportedly has said the $24 million is plenty to cover the land, construction and furnishings for the new library, with some left over.
When Ben Carter Properties’ first offer to buy the library site became public in February, defenders of the present building demonstrated and launched petition drives. That first offer was to purchase the library and incorporate a new library into a new mixed-use building within The Streets of Buckhead. It included parking available in an attached parking deck.
The Fulton Commission turned down that initial offer from the Carter organization. But Carter returned with the new offer in May.
The Fulton County Commission meeting July 2 will start at 10 a.m. in the Assembly Room, which is on the first floor of the Fulton County Government Building, 141 Pryor St. in downtown Atlanta. Those wanting to speak on the issue are encouraged to arrive between 9 and 9:30 a.m. to sign in.
Those who cannot attend the meeting but want to share their opinions with the commissioners are urged to call the commissioners at 404-730-8200.
— John Schaffner