Ceremony kicks off construction for new Geneva Public Library
Construction of a new home for the Geneva Public Library began Friday with a groundbreaking ceremony at 227 S. Seventh St.
The new 57,000-square-foot building will replace the current, smaller 110-year-old building at 127 James St.
Library district voters approved the project in April 2017 by agreeing to borrow up to $21.8 million to pay for building, equipping and furnishing it.
OHC Construction Cos. LLC of Elgin will build it for $17.98 million.
The new library will have a community art gallery, more spaces for community meetings, and laboratory spaces for collaborative work.
One thing the new library will have the old one doesn't is a parking lot with 76 spaces.
A park district playground on the site, remaining from when Sixth Street School was on it, will be moved to another location at the site once construction is finished.
The library hopes to open the new building in mid-2019.
Progress updates will be posted at gpldnewbuilding.org.