LIBRARY SAVED!

AGAIN!

From the AJC:

Buckhead library safe from wrecking ballPublished on: 07/02/08
The Buckhead library will not be torn down as part of a planned redevelopment of the Buckhead village.

Fulton County commissioners restated that Wednesday and also delayed a decision on what to include on a proposed bond issue to build libraries. Commissioners want to have the bond issue on the November ballot for voters to approve

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The major unresolved issue is what to do about the Central Library in downtown Atlanta.

Library Agenda Postponed

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Thanks to everyone who showed their support for the Buckhead Library. Several of the commissioners fully support the will of the public that attended the Library Trustees and County Board of Comissioners meeting. It has been noted that a great many of you turn out to preserve the library.

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Unfortunately, Commissioner Tom Lowe hasn't gotten the message yet. To hear Lowe call the issue click HERE and then click item 08-0472. The measure was approved in a 4-3 vote, with Commissioners Eaves, Edwards and Darnell in opposition to Lowe.

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NEW DATE

WEDNESDAY, JULY 2, 10:00AM

Open Letter to the Fulton County Commission from International Pritzker Prize Winners

Click image to enlarge.

Link to the Pritzker Prize website to allow you to understand the impact the prize has on the international community, and as such, the value of the insight of the winners of the prize.

http://www.pritzkerprize.com/full_new_site/

Commissioner Meeting

The Final Vote on the Buckhead Wasn't So Final

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 18, 10 AM

141 Pryor Street, Assembly Hall

From AIA Atlanta:
One of the meeting agenda items is the proposed demolition of the Buckhead Library and its replacement with a replica of the building to be built on the corner of East Paces Ferry and Maple Drive sans the view of downtown Atlanta.

If attendees would like to speak during the meeting, they must register in advance that day between 9:00 and 9:30 am.

Round 2!

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BEN CARTER SUGGESTS A REPLICA

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The county has been asked to develop a feasible study for a new Buckhead Library if the existing library is sold.

From the AJC:

http://www.ajc.com/services/content/business/stories/2008/05/22/library_0523.html

Yesterday's Fulton County Commissioner's meeting:

Item 08-0472 - Request approval of a Resolution directing the County Manager to take all necessary steps for final Board action on the proposed sale of the Buckhead Branch Library, Tom Lowe

From Fulton County Manager, Zachary Williams, zachary.williams@fultoncountyga.gov:

I will be working with staff to develop a packet of information that would give the Board a clear understanding of how much the library would possibly sell for if they are interested as well as any other conditions that could be place on the sale. Thus far, I have not seen any information. I have been instructed to provide the information by the second Board meeting in June.

AIA Atlanta

Buckhead Library Tour

SATURDAY, APRIL 19, 2008

2-3 PM LECTURE

3-5 PM TOUR

AIA Atlanta Tours Committee is pleased to announce the April 2008 Tour is of the Buckhead Branch Library. On Saturday, April 19th, 2008, Mack Scogin from Mack Scogin Merrill Elam Architects will deliver a lecture in the Main meeting room at the Library from 2:00 - 3:00 pm. Architects from MSME Architects are available to give guided tours of the Buckhead Library located at 269 Buckhead Ave in Buckhead from 3:00 - 5:00 pm. (1 AIA CES Credit is available). Space for the lecture is limited: please RSVP by April 17.

All tours are free and open to the public and press.

Article in

ARCHITECT

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Check out Edward Keegan's article on the Buckhead Library in this month's Architect magazine, page 18.

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http://www.architectmagazine.com/industry-news.asp?sectionID=1012&articleID=670704

Commissioners Approve Library's Recommendations

LIBRARY SAVED!

From the AJC:
http://www.ajc.com/search/content/metro/atlanta/stories/2008/03/19/fulton_0320.html

Pitts abstained after making an impassioned plea to his colleagues to delay the vote until April. He wanted more time to research whether Fulton should accept an offer from developer Ben Carter to buy the Buckhead branch, demolish it and include the property in his redevelopment plan for the Buckhead Village.

The board's vote essentially rejected Carter's plan because his offer was not part of the plan approved Wednesday. The unique branch's contemporary design has divided opinions since it opened nearly 20 years ago.

On Wednesday, several supporters of the design pushed commissioners to spare the building.

Final Master Plan Recommendation from the Library Board to be delivered to the Commission Tomorrow March 19, 2008 at 10 Am!

click for directions

http://www.fultoncountyga.gov/index.php?option=com_wrapper&Itemid=223

This is where the commission can deny the library board's recommendation to save the library and take the money and run! Please come to support the library board's decision!

Agenda Item 08-0287

http://mm1.co.fulton.ga.us/cache/00005/256/ag080319db.pdf

Rally!

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Friends of the Library

Northside Library Association

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Saturday, March 8 @ 11 o'clock

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Join the Friends of the Library for a rally at the Buckhead Branch to urge the County Commissioners to accept the Library Trustees recommendation to not sale the library.

Developing Stories

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The Buckhead Library is mentioned in the News Highlights of Architectural Record Online.
http://archrecord.construction.com/news/daily/archives/080215highlights.asp

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Click the podcast on that page, to hear Tom Lowe's infamous "abortion" statement. Architectural Record is developing the story for a future issue.

Architect magazine will feature the story in its upcoming March issue!

UPDATE ON BOC AGENDA

From Library Director John Szabo:

There really isn’t currently a date that the offer for the land will come before the BOC. Since the Board of Trustees recommended renovating the existing facility and not selling the property, the Library won’t be bringing forward the subject of the land sale. Rather, we’ll be bringing forward a recommendation to renovate this library as part of our Facility Master Plan. The only way I see the issue coming forward is if a Commissioner initiates it.

The Board of Commissioners meet on the first and third Wednesday’s of each month. During all meetings there is a Public Comment section where citizens are allowed to voice County-related requests, concerns, opinions, etc. This normally occurs at the beginning of the meetings which start at 10am. Speakers are granted up to two minutes each.

The Buckhead Library is not on the March 5th BOC Agenda. It will most likely be voted on March 19th.

Fulton County Board of Commissioners

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WEDNESDAY, MARCH 19 @ 10 AM

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Fulton Co. Government Center

141 Pryor Street, SW

Assembly Hall

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Below is the list of commissioners. Contact them in the meantime and let me them you want them to accept the Library Board's recommendation to renovate the existing library as part of the Facility Master Plan.

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John H. Eaves, District 1 (At Large), Chairman: john.eaves@fultoncountyga.gov

Robb Rittes, District 2 (At Large): robb.pitts@co.fulton.ga.us

Lynne Riley, District 3: lynne.riley@co.fulton.ga.us

Tom Lowe, District 4: Tom.Lowe@co.fulton.ga.us

Emma I. Darnell, District 5: Emma.Darnell@co.fulton.ga.us

Nancy A. Boxill, District 6: district6@co.fulton.ga.us

William "Bill" Edwards, District 7, Vice Chairman: William.Edwards@co.fulton.ga.us

BOARD VOTES TO DECLINE BEN CARTER'S OFFER!

The Board of Trustees voted today to decline Ben Carter's $25 million offer for the land of the Buckhead Library Branch. The Board will recommend this action to the Fulton County Comissioners. The Board chairman declared that this was a moment in Atlanta history to set an example for future generations to remember us by.

THANKS TO EVERYONE FOR THEIR SUPPORT! The Board stated that the passionate response of the community was what lead their decision. Thanks for signing the petition, protesting, and attending the board meeting. The conference room was packed with library users, Buckhead residents, designers, and artist.

Congratulations.

http://www.ajc.com/metro/content/metro/atlanta/stories/2008/02/27/buckhead_0228.html

Board Meeting TODAY!

From David Hamilton, AIA, MPAC Board Co-chair 2008

All:
After talking with many many people (Library Board Members, County Commissioners, etc)-- One thing is clear numbers are the only thing that will save the library and saving the library is possible...
So please come and urge everyone to attend the

Wednesday, February 27th meeting of the

Atlanta-Fulton County Library Board @ 3 pm

6th Floor, Central Library

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The room is small-- the goal is to have such a crowd that they move the meeting to the large auditorium-- If you come and the small room is filled-- stay and tell someone that you are there for the Board meeting and to protest the potential demolition of the Buckhead Library...

Presentation from

The Forum on Saving the Library

You Tube Link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3MnJAoodpNM

Library Board of Trustee Meeting

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 27 at 3 PM

Atlanta/Fulton Central Library, 6th Floor

The library board will vote on the future of Buckhead Library. Public comments will be taken at the beginning of the meeting. Come and be counted!

One Margaret Mitchell Square

404-730-1700

Peachtree Center MARTA station

Sidewalk Protest!

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Saturday, February 23 @ 11 AM

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Buckhead/Ida Williams Public Library, 269 Buckhead Avenue

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BRING SIGNS!

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Protesters are encouraged to park on side streets, not in the library lot, as to not disrupt the staff and patrons.

For further information, call Michael Riggall at 404-685-9583.

OPEN FORUM TO DISCUSS 

SAVING THE LIBRARY 

THURSDAY FEBRUARY 21ST  6-8 PM

GEORGIA TECH COA AUDITORIUM

PASS THE WORD ALONG

JUST TO CLEAR UP ANY CONFUSION

SIGNING ON IPETITION IS FREE! THERE IS NO NEED TO PAY.
AFTER YOU HIT OK YOUR SIGNATURE IS RECORDED. THANK YOU.

PLEASE FORWARD ON

PLEASE FORWARD ON THE PETITION LINK

http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/SAVETHEBUCKHEADLIBRARY/index.html


WE ARE NEARING 1700 SIGNATURES!

a better petition format

There have been some comments about difficulty in the format of the petition as comments on the blog.. so a more formal petition has been created with the help of i petition and is located at:

http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/SAVETHEBUCKHEADLIBRARY/

Please add your name to the list.

Thank you.

public opinion of a public building.

We have the chance to stand up for one of Atlanta's modern buildings and fight for it to remain standing in the face of a retail development by Ben Carter Properties ( check out the Buckhead development on their homepage at http://www.bencarterproperties.com/ ). The Buckhead Branch Library by Mack Scogin Merrill Elam Architects officially opened to the public in December 1989 and has remained a unique modern work in the city. Please join in the fight to save it and preserve the cultural, architectural, and artistic heritage of Atlanta.

please sign the petition, and post any comments.

rally the troops.

1. Sign the petition.

2. Send an email, start with the library system : Comments@co.fulton.ga.us.

This is the basic library email address to send comments to the library. The head of the library is John F. Szabo. The Fulton County commission Chairman is John Eaves.

3. Shout the manifesto, "down with haughty Buckhead EIFS architecture."

the petition.

Add a comment with your John Hancock to join the petition to save the Buckhead Branch Library in Atlanta.