Blue Point, NY – Bayport-Blue Point Library director Mike Firestone said the construction package for the new library location, the former St. Ursula Center, is nearing completion. BBS Architects, Landscape Architects & Engineers PC is preparing the paperwork for New York State Education Department Facilities Planning. “After they approve it, the work goes out to bid,” Firestone said.
“The building passed fire inspection, so we got a certificate of occupancy from the State Education Department. We tested for asbestos, lead paint and drilled into the soil. Everything passed except one room, a very small trace of asbestos in their laundry room, so that will be remediated during construction. All in all, for a 35,000-square-foot building, there was asbestos in a very small part.”
Firestone said there has been no activity on moving the Henrietta Acampora Center to the library, a possible consolidation effort with Brookhaven Town. “We anticipate working with the town and Suffolk County if they want to do programs in the new facility, but we’re still 18 or 20 months away. We still want to talk to the county about trying to get open space dollars, but first we had to get clearance for the property purchase, then state education approval of our plans. So the pressing issue is to get the paperwork in. The next step, once it’s approved, is to reach out to potential donors to offset the costs.”
By Linda Leuzzi
www.suffolkcountynews.net
August 8, 2019