It looks as if Bellevue Library will be moving to the site of the new mall, after all:
Metro's Industrial Development Board gave its OK for the possible use of more tax dollars to fund the library that developers said will attract many users to the mall.
The mall's owners, Foursquare Properties, have proposed a $12.3 million tax increment financing plan.
Developers said to include the library, they may have to add to the $12.3 million figure, but they weren't sure.The industrial development board approved the idea of a possible increase to the TIF plan to pay for a new library branch.
"If it increased and cost $2 million, they would increase TIF funds $2 million. That's what they do to pay for the project," said Industrial Development Board representative Bobby Davis.
From what I understand (and I could be misunderstanding this entirely), this decision is just for funding the library. The amount of TIF funds for the entire project still has yet to be determined.
I still don't understand what's wrong with where the library is now. Yes, it needs to be expanded, but you could do that where it is. And as I've said, the location near the Red Caboose park and Bellevue Middle School is a very kid and family-friendly area. You can walk there from the nearby housing developments, something you couldn't do if the library were at the mall. I still don't think the library "fits" there, and if anything, the amount of traffic around the mall could very well deter library-goers.
Also, I don't quite buy into the logic that putting the library by the mall is going to necessarily attract more people to the mall. If you're going to the library to do research or get work done, then why would you even need to go into the mall? Going to the mall and going to the library are two distinct activities that don't seem to mesh very well.
So if they're going to move the library, then something else is going to have to go in the old location. Maybe they could expand the community center or add more park land. It's a very nice area and it would be a shame to let it go to waste.
And for the love of God, can't we at least get a hint about what stores they have lined up for the new mall?
5 comments:
Maybe because then the city doesn't have to pay for wi-fi access, or the library's wi-fi can be tied into the mall. So you can get the benefits of the library combined with Starbucks. Should make it attractive for high schoolers looking for a place to study.
Just a thought
Good points, except:
1. It seems like kind of a waste to move a whole library just to save a few bucks on wi-fi.
2. We don't have a Starbucks in that part of Bellevue right now. There might be one in the new mall, but they refuse to tell us what's going to be in the new mall!
It's unthinkable that there would be a mall without Starbucks nowadays.
And you're right, that area is woefully under Starbucked. Which is why we'll get one.
Are they still planning to have the Wal-Mart there?
I don't think so. I think that was the original plan for the mall site but then Wal-Mart pulled out and decided to build on Charlotte Pike instead.
Way back when they built the original Super Wal-Mart? Or will there be two Wal-Marts along Charolette Pike/Rte. 70?
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