$1 million awarded for Catskill Public Library upgrades

CATSKILL―One million dollars is coming to the Catskill Public Library for accessibility upgrades at its historic Franklin Street building.

The news came to the Village of Catskill last week in a letter from New York State Homes and Community Renewal Commissioner RuthAnne Visnauskas, reporting that the Village’s application for a Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) had been approved.  

The money will go toward phase 1 of what library Director Christopher Leary has described as a two-phase “renovation and revitalization project” for the 125-year-old neo-classical structure.

Leary, who spoke back in September at a public hearing on the grant application, explained that the first phase will address Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) accessibility.

According to the plan, it consists of installation of a three-stop ADA-compliant elevator and vestibule addition, upgrades to fire alarm systems, and improvements to accessibility features including restrooms, handrails, and entrances, as well as repointing of the building’s façade.

“These funds will be dedicated to revitalizing our library, creating more accessibility, and expanding the capacity for community driven programming,” said Village President Natasha Law.

“We are grateful for this investment in our Village’s future and look forward to the positive impact it will have on generations to come,” she said.

Phase two has been identified as one of 19 priority projects in the Village’s $10 million Downtown Revitalization Initiative (DRI) award, announced last spring by Gov. Kathy Hochul. Funding for each project is awaiting final state approval.

The $1.469 million requested for the library would go toward reconfigured program spaces for children and young adults, quiet study areas, upgraded reading and gathering rooms, a new office suite, an all-electric heating and cooling system, lighting upgrades, and enhanced outdoor spaces, according to the Village.

The building was constructed in 1901 through a grant from industrialist and philanthropist Andrew Carnegie who gave some $56 million to build 2,509 public libraries worldwide.