Capital Committee Plans Library Expansion, Examines Facility Sites
Mendon Capital Committee discussed plans to expand Taft Public Library through adaptive reuse of the vacant Rectory, targeting 2030 or 2031. Gabriel Porciello and James Thach presented the project, which would add program and study space to address library capacity constraints at the town-owned,
Capital Planning Committee · Meeting of February 5, 2026
Mendon Capital Committee discussed plans to expand Taft Public Library through adaptive reuse of the vacant Rectory, targeting 2030 or 2031. Gabriel Porciello and James Thach presented the project, which would add program and study space to address library capacity constraints at the town-owned, decade-vacant building. The committee also reviewed three alternative Abacus sites: 62 Providence Street at $886 per square foot and $8.5 million cost, 29 North Avenue at $1,085 per square foot and $10.4 million, and 3 North Avenue at $1,302 per square foot and $12.5 million.
Missing from all estimates were geotechnical assessment, swing space during construction, parking expansion costs, and project management fees. The committee adopted a 20-year capital framework categorizing spending as critical, non-critical, or future priorities.
In the full story:
- The complete report — 485 words
Source: the Capital Planning Committee meeting of February 5, 2026, compiled from the official minutes.
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