County Manager Michael Brown has withdrawn a controversial proposal to move the Columbia Pike library from the Arlington Career Center to the future Arlington Mill Community Center. Brown told the county board today:
I am withdrawing the proposal to relocate the Columbia Pike Branch Library. The library will continue to offer services at this branch, at its current location, with no change in scope or format.
We solicited public opinion on the staff proposal to relocate the Columbia Pike Branch Library to Arlington Mill. Staff met with Civic Association leaders, solicited comment through the County website and social media, and held a well-attended town hall meeting this week. Public sentiment was strong and clear: People are passionate about this facility in its current location.
Staff will move forward expeditiously with development of the Arlington Mill Community Center. We will continue to explore options with the Steering Committee, framed by the existing community proposals and operating budget constraints, for any additional space that will be available in the Arlington Mill Community Center.
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- County Leaders Get Earful About Proposed Pike Library Move June 17, 2010
- New Columbia Pike Library Being Considered June 8, 2010
Thank you, Mr. Brown, for making a swift and logical decision.
Congrats. But aren’t you a bit miffed that the county came in with the appearence of strong-arming this through?
You can attribute this reversal directly to the change-in-government effort that is gaining more and more traction.
The current County Board members see the writing on the wall and are setting the template to run for their seats in magisterial districts.
They realize they can no longer afford to jam such boondoggles down the citizens throats.
I’m very pleased with the speedy resolution of this matter. While I was geared up to fight, I am happy to get back to enjoying my neighborhood and look forward to the Blues Festival.
This was a sad development for a strong arm that did not consider the benefit to the lower income people near the Mill. For an allegedly left-leaning county, this was very reactionary.