Library says Hanville branch plans downsized after high early estimate; new estimate a little over $9.1 million
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Summary
The St. Charles Parish Library presented its proposed 2026 budget and described recent changes to the Hanville branch construction plan. A reworked 30% estimate came in higher than expected and the library reduced building size and some site elements to lower costs to about $9.1 million.
Leanne Benedict, representing the St. Charles Parish Library, told the council the major change in the library's proposed 2026 budget is the Hanville branch construction project.
Benedict said the initial 30% estimate for the Hanville branch came in at about $10.3 million. "We worked with them to do some reductions," Benedict said, describing a decrease in gross square footage of roughly 2,000 square feet and other plan changes such as reducing parking and the meeting-room size. After the revisions, she said, "the re 30% estimate on that... came in a little bit over 9.1 [million]."
Benedict said the revised facility will still include a Louisiana Room for historical collections and that the meeting room will be comparable in size to the East Regional Library. She said the project team is working with a construction manager-at-risk and the architect and will continue refining costs.
Council members asked for clarification on the square footage and the nature of the reductions; Benedict said gross square footage was reduced from about 15,000 to just over 13,000.
No council vote was required on the library presentation; the item was presented as part of the parish's overall budget hearing.