Fernandina Beach library building improvements get underway

Submitted by Suanne Z. Thamm

Reporter - News Analyst

After ten years of visioning and planning, actual construction on the expansion of the city-owned building at 25 North 4^th Street began today, February 27, 2014.  This building contains the Nassau County Library System’s Fernandina Branch Library, which currently serves as the main county library facility.  Dumpsters and equipment filled the space formerly used as a staff parking lot north of the existing library structure.  Under the watchful eyes of contractors and supervisors, a demolition crew began tearing up the former parking lot.

(l-r) Gary Pope, Superintendent of Construction, Marand Builders; Donna Molinaro, Project Manager , W.W. Gay Fire & Integrated Systems, Inc., Barry Parker, President of Barry Parker Plumbing, Inc.

Gary Pope, Marand Builders superintendent of construction, said that he hopes to complete the project in eight months.  This came as good news to library staff who were anticipating the project to last a year.  The $1.6M project has been jointly financed by Nassau County, the City of Fernandina Beach, and the Friends of the Library.

During construction of the current phase, the driveway accessing the parking lot behind the library from Broome Street will be closed to normal traffic.  The Postal Service Mail Drop, formerly located in the construction zone, has been removed.  Postal officials have not yet decided whether to relocate it to another downtown location, according to a library official.

The official groundbreaking for the library expansion and renovation will take place this afternoon, February 27, from 4:00 to 5:00 p.m.  The public is invited to attend.