Geneva Library Signs Contract for Cetron Purchase as New Library Site

The Geneva Public Library has signed a contract to purchase the Cetron Building.

After nearly three years of waiting and negotiations, the library has posted a blog saying it has signed a contract to purchase the 2.25-acre site on Hamilton and Richards streets.

The Library Board approved the purchase in August 2010 but did not get a signed contract from the owner until early February 2013. 

"We are now in our period of due diligence, which allows us to conduct a site assessment to evaluate the extent of any environmental risks on the land," the blog states.

Some of the concerns about the site were that chemicals or other contaminants that might have been left over from previous uses. The build has housed Continent Electric, for example, which built photo tubes and rectifiers during World Ward II. It later became Richardson Electronics, which made vaccum tubes for vacuum gauges and the Epoxy Pencil among other devices.

In August 2010, the library hired an attorney to oversee an environmental study of the site.

"Our contract with the purchaser is constructed to allow us an 'out' if we learn that there are environmental conditions on the property that would be cost prohibitive to address," the library blog said.

"If all goes well, closing on the property would be on June 6, 2013."

The blog includes 12 comments, ranging from congratulations and excitement for a new facility to wishes to keep the library at its present location at 127 James St.

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• Library Board Approves Future Sale of Property to City
• Matt Teske: Geneva Library 2011—Looking Forward
• Mike Bruno: Geneva Library Shouldn't Tear Down Cetron Without Considering Adaptive Re-Use