The city of Festus has agreed to spend nearly $124,000 to have the vacant space next to the Festus Public Library renovated.
The library’s address is 400 W. Main St., and the approximately 10,000 square-foot vacant space to be renovated is at 406 W. Main St.
Council members voted unanimously Sept. 8 to award a $123,700 contract to Centermark Construction of Ste. Genevieve to gut the inside of the space and then renovate it.
The company submitted the lowest of four bids for the project. In addition to the renovation, Centermark also included a $4,800 optional bid the city requested to install acoustic ceiling if city officials decide to add that to the project.
City Administrator Greg Camp said on Sept. 16 that he did not yet know when Centermark would begin the project, but when it does, it should not hinder library operations.
The contract calls for the project to be finished in 60 days.
“The work will not affect the library,” he said.
Camp said the project entails a variety of renovations.
“They’ll refurbish the floor, paint walls, do electricity and lighting,” he said.
Whether or not the space will be rented to tenants or used for municipal purposes is to be decided, Camp said.
“Once the space is done, the council will decide,” he said.
The space has been vacant since 2020, Camp said, adding that its last use was by a church.
The city of Festus purchased the entire property in March 2007 from Victory Tabernacle Church for $750,000.
After renovations to the building, the Festus Public Library moved to its new space in February 2009 from its old location at 300 N. Mill St.
The building consists of the 15,000-square-foot library, plus 13,000 square feet of other office space, but only the 406 W. Main St. space is involved in the renovation project.