The Jeffersonville Carnegie Library Foundation is seeking a new tenant for its landmark building in Jeffersonville, Indiana. The board of directors of the JCLF invites inquiries from organizations that would like to occupy the building. “What we’re seeking is a true community partner who is committed to being in the area on a long-term basis and keeping the building open for some public hours as well,” said Tom Lindley, Chairman of the Jeffersonville Carnegie Library Foundation. “This could be a tremendous opportunity for an organization, and we’re looking forward to seeing proposals.”
Ideally, Lindley said, the entire building would be leased by one tenant. The space is about 7,500 square feet.
The foundation has compiled a list of requirements for the new tenant. The requirements are as follows:
- A non-profit organization is the preferred tenant, but other types of organizations, including businesses, will be considered on a case-by-case basis. All organizations should be well-established.
- The tenant will be required to sign a five year lease.
- The tenant will be required to hold consistent daytime hours when the public can see the building for at least eight hours per week. The tenant will be expected to work with educational organizations, including schools, who wish to tour the building on field trips and other events.
- The tenant will be expected to communicate regularly with the JCLF board, and will be invited to send a representative to monthly JCLF board meetings.
- The tenant will be required to pay all utilities, security fees, and routine maintenance on the systems in the building. The It will be up to the tenant to hire the services needed to run the building on a daily basis.
- All changes to the building must be approved by the JCLF board before attempted by the tenant.
Organizations that wish to be considered should prepare a proposal that includes basic information about the organization, the plans for the building, the number of staff who will occupy the building, why the organization’s leadership believes that Jeffersonville is a good choice, the organization’s annual budget or revenue and a list of the board of directors of the organization. The information should be sent to Tom Lindley, Chairman, Jeffersonville Carnegie Library Foundation, Inc., P.O. Box 4423, Jeffersonville, IN 47130
If you have questions about the Jeffersonville Carnegie Library, please call Robyn Davis Sekula at (812) 981-8223 or e-mail her at robyn@robynds.com.
The search for a tenant will continue until an appropriate match is found.
About the Jeffersonville Carnegie Library
Under the guidance of the Jeffersonville Carnegie Library Foundation in Indiana and the Community Foundation of Southern Indiana, the library, located adjacent to Warder Park, was extensively renovated. The $4 million project restored the building’s signature copper dome both inside and out to its original opulence. The library’s interior has been enhanced with hand-milled woodwork in cherry, mahogany, and maple. The original brickwork in the basement has been preserved and the floor lowered to the original foundation to provide classroom and storage space.
The Beaux-Arts style building was originally designed by Jeffersonville native Arthur Loomis and operated as a library from 1905 to the mid-1960s. It was acquired by the Jeffersonville Carnegie Library Foundation in 2003. The Community Foundation of Southern Indiana has provided ongoing support for this project since its inception.
Carnegie libraries are named for their benefactor, wealthy steel and railroad magnate Andrew Carnegie, who funded 1,679 libraries across the country.