After careful reviews of the Bryant Library's plan for expansion, the Board of the Roslyn Landmark Society has unanimously voted not to support the Library's proposal. The Landmark Society finds the Library's design inappropriate to its setting adjacent to Gerry Park in the middle of the village's historic district, and at odds with the philosophy of historic preservation which has given Roslyn its distinctive character.

The library's plan centers on construction of a massive addition to the west of the current building, with wings to the north and south. This addition is stylistically unsympathetic to both the existing War Memorial building in which the current library is located and to the neighboring structures along East Broadway. Beyond this, the plan calls for connecting the 200-year-old William Valentine House to the new wing, creating an oversized amalgam of three separate buildings of vastly different character and periods. Both the scale and design of the proposed construction will have a serious effect on the scenic vista across Gerry Park from the Main Street Historic District in the heart of Roslyn.

Of particular concern to the Landmark Society are the library's plans for the historic Valentine House. The library proposes to move the house to the northwest corner of its property in order to attach it to the main library building and to gain a few parking spots. The projected use of the Valentine House is for inappropriate children's crafts and story room on the first floor, with no uses proposed for the upper floors. (In fact, the architect's plan shows the first floor of the house totally gutted; and while the library administration denies that this is their intent, the fact that they could utilize floor plans showing this at public meetings reflects the lack of interest they have in this structure.) The Landmark Society feels that moving the Valentine House will unnecessarily damage the building and affect the views along Main Street and East Broadway at great expense and with no real benefit.

In conclusion, the board of the Landmark Society feels that the scale and design of the expansion proposed by the Bryant Library is wholly inappropriate to the community and urges the public not to support the bond issue for this project.

Harrison Hunt,

President, Landmark Society