Jesse Floyd
Passersby on Concord Avenue might notice a big gap where the old library once stood. This week, the wrecking crews were hard at work, knocking down the old building to make room for its $40 million replacement.
“They are doing prep work. They’ve gutted the inside, they’ve done the abatement for asbestos, and they have harvested the building for reusable pieces,” said Kathy Keohane Monday.
By Tuesday, Keohane, co-chair of the Board of Library Trustees, a member of the Library Building Committee, and the trustee liaison to the Belmont Library Foundation, was sharing pictures of the building being razed.
The building closed on Nov. 22, 2023, and library services dispersed around town. Adult library services operate from the Beech Street Center; children’s services have moved to the Benton Library on Oakley Road; and some staff and administration work from space at the Chenery School.
According to Keohane, the building permit for the new library was finalized in the last week of February, and the demolition permit was finalized in the first week of March.
Workers are tearing up the granite steps this week and salvaging the stone for reuse in the new building.
“I am really glad and pleased they are salvaging the granite,” Keohane said.
Belmont voters approved a debt exclusion of $34.5 million, and community donations accounted for an extra $5 million.
“We continue to seek additional donations and additional grants, but we are on track for that $5 million,” Keohane said in early January. “To date, we have transferred to the town $2.9 million, with additional monies to follow.”
The new library will open in 2025.
