By: Kristy Klaus
ALLENTOWN – Renovations to the public library will be taken step by step.
Elaine Saullo, library board president, said the renovations are occurring in stages, and the board has applied recently for a New Jersey Historical Trust Grant to help restore the South Main Street 19th century structure.
"We just applied, so we won’t find out until September," Ms. Saullo said.
She said the grant would pay for approximately half the cost of the renovations, estimated to be $250,000.
The library will have to come up with the other half of the money, most likely through fund-raising, Ms. Saullo said.
"We have to wait to see our budget," Ms. Saullo said.
She said no construction has started yet, and described the renovations as being in the "preliminary stages."
Ms. Saullo said the board has been working with architect Michael Calafati, who specializes in historical renovation. He has started interviewing contractors, and several contractors will be chosen based on their area of specialty, Ms. Saullo said.
"We will have a glazier, a painter and someone to do structural work" she said.
Ms. Saullo said the board worked with Mr. Calafati to create a preservation plan earlier this year.
"His experience is needed to keep the building historically pure," Ms. Saullo said.
Mr. Calafati then created a strategic plan outlining what work should be done first. Ms. Saullo said the roof and roof trusses will be done first, with gutter and drainage problems addressed next.
Other renovations will include replacing the windows, constructing a porch with roof at the structure’s entrance, and moving the utility box from the front to the back of the building.
Ms. Saullo said it is unclear how fast the different stages of construction will take place.
"We are taking it one step at a time," said Ms. Saullo.
The Allentown Public Library was established more than 100 years ago. Until the 1970s, it operated in donated space in houses on Main Street.
In 1972, the Library Board purchased the fire-damaged Baptist Church on South Main Street for a permanent home.
Copies of the complete library preservation plan are available at the library.
