STONY POINT, NY – After nearly a decade of community debate and planning, Rose Memorial Library’s quest for more room to serve a 14,000-resident community has finally landed on a solution.
The historic library is now preparing to move into a new, larger home at the historic schoolhouse at 117 West Main Street in Stony Point. The move marks a turning point for the library, which has long faced space constraints at its current location across from Town Hall, as well as some lively debate amongst local residents and Town officials
“It’s not just about space — it’s about honoring the community’s needs and future,” said Library Board Treasurer Richard Eggers. “This move allows us to expand programming, preserve a beautiful historic building, and serve Stony Point residents in a way that matches their enthusiasm for lifelong learning.”
The library’s existing site, a modest 3,500-square-foot building on less than a quarter acre, was the subject of several proposed redesigns. The most recent plan even included a second floor with a town history archive. However, architectural limits and cost concerns complicated those efforts.
Then, in early 2025, a surprising opportunity emerged: the current owner of the former schoolhouse approached the library with a proposal. The site had once been considered but was previously sold before the library could act. Now, the library has reached a tentative agreement to lease the property long-term, with a path to full ownership.
The Rose Memorial Library Board emphasized that the plan is both cost-effective and practical. “We had strong community support last November to rebuild on our current site. This solution honors that spirit — while delivering faster, better, and more sustainably,” Eggers said.
Many attempts had been made in the past, which not only chewed up library resources, but also was a factor in the departure of at least three previous Directors, each who had presumably made well-intended efforts to either renovate the current space or relocate to a new property.
Notably, in the mid-2010’s, the Library purchased – and then later sold – a large parcel on East Main Street, with next-generation aspirations for the library. These plans included a three-level building, a sizeable community center, dedicated computer rooms, and other amenities that many other libraries in Rockland have already constructed, such as Haverstraw King’s Daughter’s Public Library.
By the turn of the decade, when it was clear those plans would not come to fruition, the library decided to refocus on its current property, just 0.23 acres. To accomplish this, Architectural renderings called for a total renovation of the interior of the building. The renovation required a sizeable increase in the library’s budget, approximated to be $1,100,000 per year.
In that 2024 vote, over 14,000 Stony Point residents cast ballots, ultimately approving the increase in the library’s budget. The result confirmed sufficient support for expansion and revitalization, but still from the standpoint of renovation at the current property, not at 177 West Main Street. The increased funding now in place in the library’s budget should loosen up budgetary concerns for the planned lease, move and eventual full-fledged purchase of the property.
Project Timeline
- 2015–2023: Evaluation and design concepts for expanding the current site
- November 2024: Public vote passes to increase library funding
- Early 2025: Owner of schoolhouse re-engages with Library Board
- Mid 2025: Agreement finalized for long-term lease and future ownership
- Late 2025: Construction and design planning begins
- Late 2026: Anticipated opening of new Rose Memorial Library
Community Reaction
Interim Library Director Carole Stewart Gomez noted, “We’ve heard from families, seniors, students, and local historians — all of them want more from their library. This move is our promise to deliver.”
Many residents expressed relief that the library would no longer face the spatial limits of its current location. Local parent and volunteer Martha Reilly shared, “The library is a central part of our lives. Storytime, tutoring, tech help — we need room for all of it. This new space is exactly what Stony Point deserves.”
Preserving the Past, Preparing for the Future
The schoolhouse itself holds local significance, and its reuse preserves a piece of Stony Point’s architectural heritage. The Library Board emphasized that while the building will be modernized, its historic character will remain intact.
As the plans move toward finalization, the Board encourages the public to stay involved and follow updates at the Rose Memorial Library website.