Some South Jersey Municipalities Want to Move Libraries Off Beachfront, Put Land on Tax Rolls

From the Press of Atlantic City:

The Wildwood Crest branch of the Cape May County Library sits in a prized location, right on the beachfront at Ocean Avenue — and that’s why the borough is moving it two blocks away.
Having such prime beachfront real estate used for a public library might seem like a waste at a time when municipalities are looking for every source of tax revenue available.
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But not all towns are looking to put some distance between books and the beach. Stone Harbor is planning to build its library branch adjacent to the Atlantic, complete with pristine views. So is a seaside library worth it? Or do the drawbacks outweigh the positives?
In October, the Cape May County Board of Chosen Freeholders awarded a $5.3 million contract to build a 13,500-square-foot library, a structure that will be almost twice as large as the existing library branch. Construction is expected to be completed by this time next year.

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Filed under: Libraries, Public Libraries