DeKalb County’s budgetary issues may mean a new Brookhaven library is likely a ways off.
Alison Weissinger, director of DeKalb County Libraries, said though bond funding is available to build a new Brookhaven library, finding the money to operate it in the county’s annual budget would be a challenge.
“I’m worried about opening a new building and not having anyone to fill it with,” Weissinger said. “The county revenue situation is still looking very grim.”
A revamped library was previously envisioned as an anchor for the Brookhaven community. The county planned to incorporate the Brookhaven branch into plans for a transit-oriented development at the MARTA station on Peachtree Road.
But because MARTA had budget issues of its own, the project came to a halt.
“Had MARTA not been in play early on, this project would have been done by now,” Weissinger said. “We were just kind of waiting to see what could become of that. It still looks like it’s years before anything could come of that. So we’ve backed away from that.”
Weissinger said the county is now considering two sites: the current location on North Druid Hills Road and Brookhaven Park on Peachtree Road.
“There’s no money for land acquisition. We have to do it on a place we own or a place that’s free,” Weissinger said.
The current location would be difficult to expand upon, she said.
“The site that we’re on now is a fairly small site. It’s at right about an acre. Part of the piece of property is potentially unusable because of a stream bed,” Weissinger said.
One option could be designing a two-story building with parking underneath to maximize the space.
Another potential location is the Brookhaven Park on Peachtree Road.
“There’s not necessarily an objection from the parks department. They’ve expressed a willingness to work with us,” Weissinger said. “But nothing has been decided definitively. We’ll want to get input from the community.”
Brookhaven resident Ronnie Mayer believes the park is the best location for a new library, even better than the original proposal of building it at the MARTA station.
He said he envisions a library with access to the park, space for community events, and an area that could be rented by a coffee shop.
“You get a cup of coffee, a book and you go to the park,” Mayer said. “What a win-win situation.”
The location is also within walking distance of the MARTA station and has frontage on Peachtree Road.
“It would be just a great town center for Brookhaven,” Mayer said.
But he is skeptical that the county has enough money to complete the project.
“I just want to know where my library money is,” Mayer said.
Weissinger said the money to build the library will come from a 2005 bond. But the operating budget is the challenge.
“That whole process is coming to fruition at the worst time possible and we’re kind of stuck,” Weissinger said. “We’d like to restore hours and restore some of the services we’ve had to pull back on. At this point it’s a matter of money and staffing. We’re not looking at being able to add any new staff members.”
Weissinger said the county is struggling to incorporate the new Scott Candler branch in South DeKalb into its operating budget.
“I’ve already got a branch I don’t have enough people for,” Weissinger said.
But Weissinger is hopeful the county will be able to start on the new Brookhaven next year.
“I’d like to get moving on this project once we get our Candler project wrapped up,” she said. “I’m hoping next year we’ll really get going and make a final site selection.”
–Melissa Weinman
