Aug 28thHeights Observer Blog Post

Check out this post. You need to take action now!
http://blogs.heightsobserver.org/2013/08/3524/

Aug 28thSaturdays Rally in front of the Library

This is not a DONE DEAL!!

Aug 26thCheck out our . . .

Save the SE-L Mansion Library FaceBook page.

Aug 24thRally at the Library Saturday August 24

Join us in front of the South Euclid-Lyndhurst Library at 5 p.m. Saturday, August 24th.

Come for  5, 15 or however many minutes you can spare.

Show you want to keep the library in the Telling Mansion.

4645 Mayfield Road       5:00 p.m.    See You There!

Aug 19thSouth Euclid Planning Commission Mtg. Thursday, Aug. 22 at 7 pm

Locn:  South Euclid Center Community Center
1370 Victory Drive, South Euclid, OH 44121

Public Hearing about the proposed Green Road Library. 7 pm.

We just need people there.  It’s that simple.  They need to know the community cares about this. It is not about saving the library in its’ current location, it is a Public Hearing to help them determine if they should recommend City Council to approve the conditional use of this land for the new library. That is it.  No statement about keeping it in the existing space or landscape design of the new library. That is not the intent of this meeting, so we don’t want to waste their time listening to that.  They need to hear concerns about the impact it will have on that area of Green Road and its surrounding neighborhood.  They will not grant a permit if there are significant issues/concerns.

Read below for some of the issues/concerns that residents that live in the area have.  Would you want this to happen in your neighborhood?

If you want to speak (South Euclid residents first, with a limit of maybe 2 minutes/person).

Here are some of the issues that the South Euclid Planning Commission and the City’s Community Planning and Design consultant have been working on:

1). Stormwater Management
The EPA has strict guidelines on water coming off of new construction. And both the library’s engineers and the engineers hired by the city have weighed in. But residents are still very concerned. They’ve driven through flooding on Green Road and seen record high precipitation this summer (complete with a South Euclid tornado). In fact, asking for caution, nearby property owners have written and signed a draft asking the Mayor to order a $400 study by the Cuyahoga County Soil and Water Conservation District. It’s small amount to pay, on a $12.5 project, yet both the Planning Commission and the Library Board have refused the request.

2). Mature Trees
Forest City Tree Company sits on a large part of the site, so the property is currently wooded and filled with mature trees. The site will be cleared and paved. The architect hoped to keep a few significant trees, but they turned out to be in the parking area, where crowded conditions to maximize the number of spaces resulted in a too-small space for each tree. Because they probably wouldn’t survive, even these trees will be cut down.

3). The Project’s Layout
This site is on a hill, quickly dropping off (to see, go to the overlook next to the Sanctuary on Green, and look down at the Langerdale Urban Marsh). The proposed library would be a one-story 30,000 square building, plus enough paving for driveways and parking spaces. Of the square footage on this site, only a portion of it is buildable, with the rest sloping down. So the project’s footprint is squeezed onto the flattest part. To fit, the library building would be on the Greenway side, with the back of the building against the backyard of the houses. The side of the building would face Green Road, and the front of the building would face the parking lot, which is next to the Sanctuary on Green.

In other words, the building would be close to the houses, and the noisy parking lot would be close to the Sanctuary. That’s the only way it fits. Regarding the number of parking spaces planned, negotiations between the library and Planning Commission continue.

Senders Pediatrics is just down the street. To put things in perspective, that development is smaller than the proposed library project’s parking lot.

4). Driveways
Notre Dame would move its driveway to line up with the library’s driveway. Once on the property, patrons would drive to parking spaces, to drop off others at the door, to use the drive-up window or the book drop, and to negotiate their way off the property. The flow should be intuitive and non-confusing. Pedestrians, either entering the property, or traveling between the front door and parking, should be safe.

5). The Relationship to the Neighborhood
The city’s planning consultant notes that Green Road is an institutional corridor. There are houses and Green Road, too. Any new project should harmonize with the surrounding area especially those adjacent. Notre Dame College, directly across the street, establishes the tone, particularly in set-back. At Sanctuary on Green next door, gardens and trees dominate. With the library project, parking would be prominent.

6). Barriers and Fences
On two sides of the property, there are neighbors – the residents of Greenway on one side, and the Sanctuary on Green on the other. These neighboring properties need to be protected from the lights, noise and activity of the proposed library. The barriers could be physical barriers, plant material, or both. The physical barriers could be made of plastic, wood, or stone. The distance between plantings and the mature height are also factors. Both effectiveness in shielding the neighbors and appearance of those barriers are important.

On the west side, the property slopes down. It also incorporates a never cut-through road where utilities lie, which may or may not require access. Also, a garage would remain on the property, which may or may not require a gate. Finally, a barrier could go up before the slope, or at the edge of the property, or not at all. Partiers tend to use the property and should be excluded.

Lots to think about.   Hope to see you on Thursday night!

Aug 19thThank You for Your Support!

Thank you to all who came to the Rummage / Bake Sale.
We made close to $1000 and it is all due to your support and help spreading the word.

We can’t do it without you!

Check upcoming events and what you can do to Save the Library!

Aug 15thRummage / Bake Sale this Sat., Aug 17 from 9 – 5

2448 Euclid Heights Blvd., Cleve. Hts., 44106

Stop by and browse our deals and nibble some treats!

Want to make some room in your house instead? Donate items to the Rummage Sale. Bring them to the address below Thursday after 6 pm.

See you there!

All proceeds go to the Save the Mansion Library committee primarily to help cover legal costs. Part of the proceeds will be used to help pay for public relations materials (printing, postage, signs, advertisement).

Aug 12thElected Officials Need to Hear from YOU

Your actions are going to be what saves the South Euclid – Lyndhurst Public Library.  The Save the Mansion Library Committee cannot do it alone.  There are not enough of us.  The board does not see this issue upsetting the public.  They need to hear from people who live here now.  Check out http://www.savethemansionlibrary.org/what-you-can-do/

Aug 8thThe South Euclid-Lyndhurst Library is a regional issue why? Well, let us tell you…

Please SPREAD THE WORD! We need lots of people so show their support to save the South Euclid-Lyndhurst Mansion Library. 

If people tell you they don’t live in South Euclid or Lyndhurst, please try to explain to them that this is a REGIONAL  issue because:

• The sale of Telling will be a loss of public wealth for all of us. All Cuyahoga County and state residents have been supporting Telling Mansion for the past 60 years. If Telling is sold, this public investment will be transferred into the hands of one person or a private company. 

• Our money.  To fund the Facilities Master Plan, the Library Board unilaterally issued $75 million in notes that we will all have to pay back, along with $100 million in interest.

• Disregard for the democratic process. Not a single citizen got to vote on this plan or for Board members Library Board members are not elected, but appointed by County Executive and Common Pleas Court.

• Fiscal irresponsibility. Renovating all 3 Telling buildings will cost $5 million. It will cost $12.6 million to build a new Library. The Library Board is negotiating to sell Telling for $755,000. It cost $700,000 to build in 1930. There is no need to sell Telling, much less “give it away”.

• The best and highest use of this building is as a public library.

•  What kind of message are we sending about our area?

• Will selling a building on the National Register of Historic Places and an Ohio Landmark help attract new residents?

• The sale of Telling Mansion is so illogical that people think we are not telling them the whole story or twisting the facts. Encourage them to ask questions, and to contact the committee at 216-694-8304 or email us at: savethemansionlibrary@gmail.com 

 Don’t wait…do something NOW.    Here’s what you can do