Half Moon library construction to begin this year, Fall 2016

San Mateo Daily Journal (San Mateo County), Samantha Weigel, 3/9/16. "Coastside library fully funded: County loans Half Moon Bay $6M to help cover project."

Downtown library for Half Moon Bay coming soon.

"It’s official: All of the funding has come together for the coastside to enjoy a new library courtesy of a collaboration between the county and city of Half Moon Bay. The funding details for the $23 million library were solidified Tuesday after the San Mateo County Board of Supervisors agreed to loan the city $6 million. Both agencies agreed to equally split the cost of the proposed nearly 22,000-square-foot facility that will replace the existing outdated library near the heart of downtown Half Moon Bay. 

But while the city was able to come up with about half of its portion, it had planned to fund the remainder through bonds that would have incurred substantial expenses in interest. Instead, the county offered a no-interest $6 million loan under extremely favorable terms. .... The city will have 10 years to settle the loan and isn’t required to start making payments until fiscal year 2019-20 — which is when Half Moon Bay’s general fund will have freed up just under $1 million annually after paying off its Beachwood lawsuit settlement debt, according to city and county officials.

....  “The library is an important collaborative project because the City Council and the Board of Supervisors realize that by investing in the library, we are investing in the people of San Mateo County,” Mayor Rick Kowalczyk wrote in an email. “The result is that we are able to fund the new library with no tax increase whatsoever to the community. I think this is the greatest gift that we can give to Half Moon Bay and the coastside.”  .... Don Horsley, our County Supervisor (District 3),  added he was pleased to see the city, which has had its financial struggles, work to come up with the $6 million as well as other donations; which helped reassure county officials the city is extremely committed to the project." Read more.

Related.  Half Moon Bay Review/Carina Woudenberg, 3/9/16, "County gives Half Moon Bay $6 million advance for downtown library.  Construction scheduled for Fall." "The San Mateo County Board of Supervisors voted unanimously Tuesday morning (3/8/16) to provide the city of Half Moon Bay with a $6 million advance to cover costs associated with the Half Moon Bay library project. .... The library project is currently through its design phase, Mayor Rick Khojikian said. Demolition for the existing library is slated for July with construction on the new library scheduled for the fall." Friends of the San Mateo County Libraries.  Half Moon Bay Library Facebook.

Note photograph is a face page image to Griffin Holdings, the related Half Moon Bay Review article, and Friends of Half Moon Bay Library Facebook.   

Posted by Kathy Meeh