Downtown construction boom

By Alice Waugh

Two landmarks in the town center—the Lincoln Public Library and Bemis Hall—have been getting upgrades.

The sidewalk to the library shortly before completion.

A worker blasts away decayed material from the front of Bemis Hall.

Construction recently finished on a new sidewalk along Library Lane. Until now, patrons had to walk up or down the middle of Library Lane (or across the sloped lawn to the library entrance if they parked on Bedford Road).

The handicapped parking spot by the entrance has been restored, and it’s now large enough for a van, though not two cars side by side, said library director Barbara Myles. There has been discussion of converting the 10-minute parking spot across the lane into another handicapped spot, she said. Eventually, the library also hopes to extend the sidewalk all the way down to Trapelo Road, she said.

Meanwhile, Bemis Hall is getting repairs on its exterior brickwork and flashing at a cost of $112, 570 and new energy-efficient windows. Voters approved spending $117,000 for the Bemis windows (part of a larger $265,000 appropriation for windows at both Bemis Hall and the Pierce House) to reduce energy costs and make occupants more comfortable while maintaining both buildings’ historical integrity.