Trustees outline Ramsdell timeline: construction projected to start Jan. 2028; Great Hall to be restored and made accessible

At the request of the Housatonic Improvement Committee, Trustees provided a detailed timeline and answers about the Ramsdell renovation. Trustees said construction is projected to start in January 2028 after approval at Town Meeting and completion of schematic design and permitting; the duration of construction will be determined once a contractor is selected.

Trustees described plans to move Ramsdell materials to off-site storage at a point during renovation and to explore temporary or pop-up locations in the village to offer limited services while work proceeds. The second-floor Great Hall will be fully restored and made fully accessible, trustees said, and the plan calls for two to three small meeting/study rooms, restoration of another small meeting room, and a shared workspace as staffing allows. The renovation will include a "Tech Commons" with dedicated computer stations rather than a separate computer lab; the Library of Things will be stored and made browsable via a pictorial catalog display; there will not be a staffed café, but the second-floor meeting space will have a kettle for hot water and patrons may bring beverages. The library will continue to serve as a water distribution site for HWW program customers while that program remains active.

Trustees said fundraising will be ongoing throughout the project; trustees intend to apply to the Community Preservation Committee (CPC) for restoration and accessibility funding while the Town will apply for other grants. Trustees plan outreach events during FY27 to provide information about giving opportunities.