AMHERST — The town is seeking a contractor to build an addition and make other accessibility improvements at the North Amherst Library.
A legal advertisement placed by the town is soliciting companies that could handle the estimated $1.25 million project. A mandatory walk-through at the 1893 building site, at 8 Montague Road, is set for 1 p.m. Friday.
The project, endorsed by the Town Council in 2020 based on plans developed by Kuhn-Riddle Architects, depends on continued funding from an anonymous donor, who has pledged to provide all the money needed.
Town Manager Paul Bockelman said the project will not move forward if that donor isn’t willing to make the contribution. But he adds that he is confident that person has no intention of backing out. The donor has already covered the costs of the building plans.
Those plans show a community room for 40 to 45 people, two bathrooms and a wheelchair lift, all attached to the rear of the existing building. The 129-year-old building is currently only accessible by stairs, and there is no public bathroom.
At a Jones Library buildings and facilities subcommittee meeting Tuesday, Library Director Sharon Sharry said the timeline remains three to six months to complete construction, though when construction might begin is not yet known.
Before the work begins, library officials are preparing to consolidate branch library services at the Munson Memorial Library in South Amherst. That will include transferring the collection, computers and furnishings, expanding open hours, and possibly using the larger hall at Munson for library services.
Facilities Supervisor George Hicks-Richards said that following the walk-through, it will likely be two weeks or so before the town gets some understanding of interest from contractors. Final bids are due to the town’s accounting office by March 18 at 2 p.m.
Scott Merzbach can be reached at smerzbach@gazettenet.com.