Icons for Sale: If Geneva Library Moves, Historic Limestone Building Could Be a Future City Hall

• Editor's note: This is the fifth of a multipart summer series by Tara Knott and Garrett Lance looking at the iconic Geneva buildings for sale or facing future moves, and what those moves mean for Geneva's long-term development. See the series intro .

The Geneva Public Library isn’t for sale.

And, because of a recent agreement with the city of Geneva, the property may never go on the open market despite the library’s potential move to a new location.

Instead, the space may be used by the city in some capacity if the library relocates to the in the next several years.

Within the last three weeks, the and the  passed mirroring resolutions that would allow the city to purchase the Geneva Public Library District property at 127 James St.

The resolutions passed by the two bodies are non-binding agreements. The details of these agreements include a determination of the library’s purchase price based on averaging three appraisals.

The future sale could be realized once a number of events occur, including the library’s acquisition of the Cetron property, a building plan that meets zoning requirements is drafted, and a referendum for building bonds to construct a new library on the site is passed.

“If everything goes as planned, then the city will acquire the current library building”, said Library Board President Esther Barclay. “If, for some reason, either party chooses to remove themselves from the resolution then, and only then, would I see the library being put on the open market.”

Geneva Mayor Kevin Burns is more cautious about the likelihood of the city’s acquisition.

“The city of Geneva is keeping its options open by entering into an agreement with the library that, should the opportunity present itself for us to look at that library for acquisition, we’ll do so,” he said. “It’s strictly an option. To say it’s likely is misleading, but it’s a strong option.”

In order to back out of the agreement, a 30-day notification is required from the withdrawing party.

Keeping the library building in the public sector, however, seems a top priority for those on the Library Board.

Barclay believes the transfer of the library property to the city is in the best interest of Geneva’s residents.

“The residents of Geneva have expressed concern over the fate of our library building,” she said. “Without question, the biggest advantage (of the city and library’s agreement) is that this beloved building will stay in the public sector and will still belong to the residents of Geneva. Other advantages are that the city will be acquiring a meticulously-maintained building that will almost perfectly suit the space needs of the city.”

Indeed, this “beloved building” does have historical significance. The current library was constructed in 1908 with a donation from Andrew Carnegie, and underwent three additions, most recently in 1998.

Barclay is certain that the library property remaining in the city’s hands is the best outcome for Geneva’s citizens and the building itself.

“I believe the agreement will benefit the residents of Geneva by keeping the library in the hands of the public and preserving the building for future generations,” she said.

At this point, however, who will occupy the library building remains uncertain—as does who will occupy City Hall if the city chooses to move.