The Michigan Library Nobody Would Save | Robert Donovic

Rob Donovic, who spent years on Livonia's city council, breaks down the numbers behind the 2019 closure of the Noble Library. What does it cost to renovate a 15,000 square foot building? Why did the RFP's own terms ruled out most for profit buyers before anyone even applied? And would it have been a smarter move to tear the library down and put the land back on the tax rolls? We answer all of these questions plus: → What Livonia voters gave up when they rejected the bond → Why commercial buildings age nothing like a house → A quick tease of the Sandburg boiler situation Rob, thanks for coming on the show to talk about libraries, budgets, and Livonia politics with me. I appreciate you making the time, brother! *Chapters* 0:00 Welcome back and Rob's background 0:42 Military service, real estate, and the family diner 1:53 Why local stories hit harder than legal ones 4:07 Setting up the Noble Library debate 5:21 How Livonia city council terms actually work 6:26 Noble Library's history and the 2019 closure 7:48 Walking the building and finding the mold 8:49 The case for one consolidated library 9:42 Could the land just be sold instead 10:49 The task force, the RFP, and zero bids 11:29 Breaking down the real cost to renovate 20:20 The bond Livonia voters rejected 21:14 What the city gave up in tax revenue 24:01 Why commercial buildings age differently than homes 26:09 Teasing the Sandburg boiler situation  ~~~ This episode is brought to you by Fausone & Grysko, PLC https://www.thefgfirm.law/ *Prefer to listen? https://pod.link/1849177096