Northside Library

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Northside Library is the newest branch library of the Jefferson-Madison Regional Library (JMRL) system. Originally opened in a rented facility at Albemarle Square in 1991, it eventually became the regional library's most heavily used branch based on the number of items checked out.[1] On Monday, March 16, 2015 it opened at the current location, 705 Rio Road West, in a repurposed Phillips Building Supply building.[2]

Branch History

Established in 1991 as a new branch library, the JMRL Northside Library was originally open to the public in leased space at Albemarle Square shopping center and supported by the County warehouse/storage space located in leased space at the former Comdial building on Seminole Trail.[1] The Albemarle Square location opened on December 14, 1991 after $210,000 was spent to renovate a space formerly housed by Drug Fair. The County of Albemarle purchased a building on the other side of U.S. 29 to serve as a replacement library from Martha Jefferson Hospital on June 12, 2013.

Rio Road location

Kenbridge Construction of Lunenburg County was the lowest bidder with a $7 million bid. [3] Work had been expected to be completed by October 2014 but that had been delayed with occupancy in the new location expected for March 2015. [4]

Construction began in early 2014 and involved the re-purposing of one of the existing Phillips Building Supply buildings at 705 Rio Road West. The new facility provides approximately 30,000 square feet of library space, space for the bookmobile, branch office space, and over 20,000 square feet of warehouse space. The new facility officially opens its doors to the public at noon on Monday, March 16, 2015. Community residents and business owners were invited to attend a larger celebratory event on Saturday, April 18, 2015. [2]

Property transfer history

The County of Albemarle, Virginia purchase the library site (705 Rio Road West) from Martha Jefferson Hospital on June 12, 2013; Magisterial District: Rio; 3.11 acres; sales price: $3,000,000 (Deed Book/Page 4365/46).

On July 30, 2010, Martha Jefferson Hospital acquired the future library site (and the adjacent Storage Warehouse parcel) from Raymond R. Phillips (1932-2017) and Jane B. Phillips (1931-2016) - the chief benefactors of the Phillips Cancer Center at Martha Jefferson Hospital, which they named for their daughter, Debra J. Phillips, M.D. (1952-1992).[5]

On January 3, 2024, the adjacent Storage Warehouse/4.37 acres property at 721 Rio Road W was sold to Mount Sinai Properties, Charlottesville, LLC[6]


Map

Coordinates:Erioll world.svg.png 38°04′56″N 78°28′17″W / 38.082124°N 78.471447°W / 38.082124; -78.471447

References

  1. 1.0 1.1 Web. Library History, Copyright © 1972-2024 JMRL, Feb. 3, 2024, retrieved Feb. 3, 2024.
  2. 2.0 2.1 Web. Charlottesville’s New Northside Library, REALCENTRALVA, March 16, 2015, retrieved Feb. 3, 2024.
  3. Web. Albemarle begins negotiations with contractor for new Northside Library, J. Reynolds Hutchins, Daily Progress, Lee Enterprises, February 28, 2014, retrieved March 10, 2014.
  4. Web. Northside Library Lease Extension, County of Albemarle, retrieved November 5, 2014.
  5. Web. Phillips R. Obituary, Daily Progress, Lee Enterprises, Nov. 2, 2017, retrieved Feb. 3, 2024.
  6. Web. [1]


External Links

Official site