$10 million increase for new Williamsburg library

It's Aug. 10. Williamsburg City Council meets today to discuss the new downtown library, whose price rose to $37.2 million. Cardinal Ridge developers propose fewer homes. 18-year-old fatally shot.

From left, sketch of proposed downtown library, current building, and proposed James City County library annex. (Williamsburg Watch photo & architect images)

When Williamsburg City Council last reviewed the proposed $26.1 million downtown library last November, the contractors involved told Vice Mayor Pat Dent they would conservatively budget inflation cost increases of 3-5% a year. But the final proposal council will review today shows an all-in revised price tag of $37.2 million – a 42% increase.

City resident Bob Wilson, a retired executive who frequently speaks at council meetings to decry excessive spending and public debt, told city council in an I told you so letter that the ultimate cost to taxpayers, including financing, would amount to $61 million “or about $78,000 for each City Resident library card holder.”

According to a memorandum from City Manager Michele DeWitt, the increased costs were driven not just by inflation, but also by upgrades to the original library plan and the cost of furnishings and fixtures.