By: Adam Bennett story
  The United Furniture building could be used as an Internet cafe, a community meeting room or an extension for Dorsch Memorial Library, though the price could top $2 million.


That was the message from a community forum Tuesday night seeking ideas for the future of the 77-year-old building, which sits adjacent to the downtown library.

More than 50 residents and library and city officials offered their input on what the building should be used for during the two-hour session with the Monroe City Council. The city purchased the building last year through the Port Commission for $260,000 and has since launched a study to help determine the feasibility of the uses.

The ideas in the session ranged from renovating the space into an art gallery to creating a community cultural center.

Several library officials said the 12,000-square-foot building should be used solely for Dorsch use, while others said a mix of commercial and community uses could be the best route.

The suggestions will be used to determine what will be housed in the building and to put a cost on that development.

However, city officials signaled that the plans may pose a challenge given the city’s tight finances.

City Manager George Brown said the city’s projected shortfall of $1.5 million next year means there would be no money to fund the project.

“Right now the city doesn’t have the capacity in the general fund to fund capital or to take on another operation,” he said. He suggested community donations or partnerships with other entities as a possible solution.

Architect Steve Smith from TMP Associates said the building would likely need about $300,000 to make just the necessary fixes to the roof, windows and walls. Another $1.5 to $2 million would likely be required to bring the building back up to code.

He and colleague Debra McMillan outlined the shape of the structure, noting an actively leaking roof and outdated mechanical and electrical systems.

“That needs to be addressed right away but it has great potential,” Ms. McMillan said. She added that the exterior walls and wood structure seemed to be strong.

Both said the improvements would have to be made before converting the former warehouse and furniture store into a library or other use.

Participants at the forum broke into groups to develop a range of ideas for the building.

Among the suggestions were:

n Incubator for small businesses

n City visitors center

n Apartments

n Coffee shop

n Studios for the Monroe Public Access Cable Television station.

n Antiques store

The library expansion resoundingly ranked at the top, while community uses like a conference room, cultural center or computer lab came in behind.

Of the 22 ideas pitched in the forum, Mr. Smith said most could fit in a library setting.

“Nothing is incompatible with a library use,” he said. “It can certainly handle a cyber café or a meeting room with teleconferencing.”

June Coyne, president of the Friends of the Dorsch Library, said the library could fill all three stories of the building with programming and materials.

“Dorsch has no place to grow,” she said. “Using this space would be so glorious. The library needs to have this space.”

Others reminded that the original intent of purchasing the building was for an expansion of Dorsch.

Mr. Smith said TMP would fine tune the options presented during the session and put costs to each. He said a report should be available to the city by the end of September.