Thursday, April 3 - Old OC Library Branch To Come Down

OCEAN CITY - The fate of the old 14^th Street library building was sealed this week, as the City Council voted unanimously to approve the demolition of the building. 

The 14^th Street library officially closed its doors last month, as the move was made to the new, expansive 100^th Street building. The 14^th Street building served as a proud, but often cramped home for the library for over 40 years, but with the building vacated and its functional use declining, the next step is demolition.

Public Works Director Hal Adkins reported this week that Worcester County had officially vacated the building, removing the underground fuel tank that served as the heating system and relinquishing the building back into the hands of the town.

'It is our desire to now move forward with the demolition or de-construction. It is our intent to systematically take the building apart and recycle it,' said Adkins.

Over the next month, crews will be de-constructing the interior of the building in preparation for the May 1 demolition. Carpeting, paneling and shelving will all be removed in an effort to have only a shell to demolish, explained Adkins. The asbestos-based vinyl tile, which resides beneath the carpet, will be professionally removed prior to demolition.

According to Adkins, the long-range intent of the land, since the early 90's, has been to use the site for a future desalinization plant. Because the plant is not yet needed, the site will be used as extra parking in the interim. The parking lot will not be paved and striped until next year.

'We will leave the perimeter landscaping and gravel the site for additional parking this summer,' said Adkins.

To read the full story, see The Dispatch tomorrow morning.