A roof and a heating, ventilation and air conditioning repair project at the Sewickley Public Library has cleared another hurdle.

Borough council unanimously voted Tuesday night to approve a “certificate of appropriateness” for the HVAC portion of the work at 500 Thorn St.

It granted the certificate for the roof repair portion last month. The certificate is necessary for building work in Sewickley’s historic districts.

“I think it’s a great asset to the community,” council President Jeff Neff said. “There’s not many libraries left.”

The project approvals were split in two after members of the Historic Review Commission requested more drawings and information on the HVAC work.

Heather Wildman, commission chair, supported the development.

“The library is doing a wonderful job at matching existing materials and retaining the historic character of the structure,” she said. “The mechanical units are currently visible and will be somewhat more visible when they are raised. Concealing HVAC equipment is often a challenge with historic buildings.”

Library development associate Michelle Cleary thanked the borough for its support, and said they are still awaiting word on funding.

“We look forward to hearing news of a grant award very soon and to beginning the preservation work needed to maintain the historic charm of our village library,” Cleary said via email Tuesday night.

The repair project is estimated at $1.3 million. It includes a new roof, new windows and new HVAC system for a one-to-one replacement of old pieces.

Library and borough officials partnered to apply for a Keystone Grant through the Office of Commonwealth Libraries, a division of the state Department of Education, to help fund the project. The library would provide half of the total cost to be matched by the grant.

More information about library activities is available at sewickleylibrary.org.

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