Houston-Love library committee wants to renovate downtown site

A committee tasked with finding the best possible site for a new Dothan library is prepared to recommend a renovation and expansion of the current site, transforming it into a library campus that comprises an entire city block.

Related Information:

  · Houston-Love Memorial Library
  Look at the conceptual plans for the renovation and expansion of the library’s downtown location

Library Committee chairman Taylor Barbaree presented a preliminary concept Friday morning that would gut the current building on West Burdeshaw Street for renovation, construct an addition that would double the library’s current space, and create frontage on Oates Street.

The addition would displace three businesses on Oates Street as well as some parking spaces used for the Dothan Post Office. Barbaree said negotiations have been held with the three property owners affected, and that the properties can be obtained for about $1.423 million. The properties appraised for more than $800,000.

“This is more than about real estate,” said Forrest Register of Register Realty, who helped negotiate with the property owners. “This is about businesses and businesses relocating, keeping the employees employed, all of that. The negotiations were more about keeping the businesses operating.”

Barbaree said the total price of the project is not known yet, but he expects it to be below the cost of constructing a brand new library at a new location. He said expanding at the current location would be an asset to the area, and meet the needs of library users.

“If a state of the art library was kept here, hopefully some businesses will come back (to the area),” Barbaree said. “We would like it to have a rolling effect down Oates Street and the surrounding area.”

An artist rendering of the preliminary concept shows a larger, reoriented library, with the main entrance facing Oates Street instead of its current location facing West Burdeshaw Street. The project would encompass the entire block, with landscaped green space on all sides, a covered patio, and outdoor classroom area. The block would be encircled by a decorative fence.

“We wanted to create a campus effect,” Barbaree said. “Plus, this gives us curbside appeal with North Oates Street.

The committee is scheduled to meet Nov. 7 and vote to recommend the project to the Library Board. If the board approves the idea, it would then be presented to the Dothan City Commission and probably the Houston County Commission as well. Barbaree said funding for the new library would need to be a combination of public money and private donations.

The renovation and expansion would almost double the library’s space from 33,000 square feet to 64,000 square feet. A suggested police substation within the library is being considered also.

Barbaree stressed the rendering is conceptual only and could change before the final plans are approved. He said plans would be made to recoup the parking spaces lost for post office patrons.

Houston-Love Memorial Library director Bettye Forbus said the renovation and expansion would allow the library to meet the public’s needs.