Senoia’s residents made their disdain quite clear Monday night of the proposed design for the new library.

Architect Brian Haun presented a proposal to the City Council for the new $500,000 library to resemble an old-fashioned train station. Haun showed slides of other train station during the early 20th century, and then unveiled his proposal, which was met with an almost universal disappointment.

“I don’t think you’ve listened to the residents who said it should look like a train station,” said City Councilman Bill Wood.

Haun said the challenge was to create a working library that still contained elements of a train station. He pointed to the roofline and the porches that had some resemblance to a depot.

But all the residents at the meeting urged the city to seek a better proposal.

“How much did we pay for this design? There might be somebody in our community who could do this,” said Gary Gruby.

As the complaints started piling on, Mayor Robert Belisle asked Haun if he could meet withe the city’s Historic Preservation Committee on Monday to get a better focus of what the residents want the new building to resemble.

Haun agreed, and the issue will come back to the City Council after a new proposal is drafted..

In August, Haun showed the City Council the interior of the facility which met with approval from the council. He said the library’s space is divided into areas for technology, books for children, young adults and adults and a multi-purpose room for civic groups to stage meetings.

The multi-purpose room and the restrooms are a separate part of the library that could be accessed after hours for meetings, Haun added.

The back part of the library will also be near a set of train tracks, so when children hear the train coming down the tracks, they could run to the window and see the train pass through the city.

There will also be secluded study areas, and more than 250 sq.ft of storage space, which is far more than the closet the library staffers currently use.

Officials are hopeful that ground will be broken on the facility shortly after the beginning of the year.

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