<body><div><figure><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=1fGWji_17s5mcbW00" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=1fGWji_17s5mcbW00" width="1000" height="673" ></figure>A replacement for the East Cobb Library branch at Parkaire Landing Shopping Center is being proposed in the initial project list for an extension of the current Cobb Special Purpose-Local Option Sales Tax. According to the project list for the proposed 2028 SPLOST (you can read it here), which was submitted by county government department heads, Cobb library officials want to construct a new facility at a cost of $25 million. The East Cobb Library branch, which has been at Parkaire since 2010, is the only branch in the system that leases space. Cobb officials next week will begin public meetings on the proposed 2028 SPLOST, which would have to be approved by voters in a referendum in November. The first of those meetings is next Thursday at the Tim D. Lee Senior Center in East Cobb. The project list for the East Cobb Library relocation doesn’t offer any other details. But in response to a request for information from East Cobb News, Cobb government spokesman Ross Cavitt said Wednesday that the county wants to relocate the East Cobb Library to “a freestanding facility on county property.” He said that location is still undetermined, but that the county is looking at several options. Parkaire Landing is managed by Jamestown LP, a commercial real estate management company that also operates Avenue East Cobb, Colony Square, Avalon and Ponce City Market. The East Cobb Library has 17,000 square feet of space, and includes study and meeting rooms as well as a community meeting space. Cavitt said the plans are to expand that space. “It’s one of our more popular locations,” Cavitt said. “Those who use it are very passionate about it.” Public outcry surfaced quickly in 2018 when the East Cobb Library was proposed for closure as part of Cobb budget cuts. But then-Commissioner Bob Ott vowed that wouldn’t happen. The suggestion was initially raised by Commissioner JoAnn Birrell, whose District 3 now includes the library area. At the time, more than 250,000 materials a year were being checked out at the branch, and Cobb was paying $263,000 a year in annual rent at Parkaire. Cavitt didn’t immediately have a figure for the current rent total, but said the county “wants to end that.” The East Cobb Library formerly was located in the Merchant’s Walk Shopping Center, opening near the current Seed restaurant in 1979. The Merchant’s Walk redevelopment company paid the county to relocate the library to Parkaire; high land prices were cited at the time for leasing space for the East Cobb Library instead of building anew. The 2028 SPLOST would continue the one-percent sales tax collections for a variety of projects, including roads and transportation, public safety facilities, parks and libraries upgrades and maintenance and more. Cobb commissioners would have to vote to call for a referendum, and Cavitt said that such a vote could come as early as April. That’s when county officials and leaders from Cobb’s seven cities will have to finalize their project lists. The public meetings that continue through March 10 also will help finalize the project list. Another such meeting in the East Cobb area will be Jan. 29 at the Fullers Recreation Center. Get Our Free E-Mail Newsletter!Every Sunday we round up the week’s top headlines and preview the upcoming week in the East Cobb News Digest. Click here to sign up, and you’re good to go!</div></body>

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A replacement for the East Cobb Library branch at Parkaire Landing Shopping Center is being proposed in the initial project list for an extension of the current Cobb Special Purpose-Local Option Sales Tax. According to the project list for the proposed 2028 SPLOST (you can read it here), which was...

Cobb officials propose relocating East Cobb Library branch

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A replacement for the East Cobb Library branch at Parkaire Landing Shopping Center is being proposed in the initial project list for an extension of the cu

Cobb officials propose relocating East Cobb Library branch

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