Owners Seeking to Return Former Middleburgh Library into a Home

By David Avitabile

MIDDLEBURGH - The owner of the former Middleburgh library wants to return the building into a residence.

The property owner, Angelica Diller, who also owns several other properties in the village, spoke to village board members last Monday. She said she is hoping to repaint the building before turning it back into a home.

The building, located at the corner of Wells Avenue and Main Street, was once a home until the late 1930s when it was transformed into the Frances B. Spencer Library. A new library was built on Main Street in the early 2000s. After the library left, a religious group bought the former library for $28,000. They sold to the popular Green Iguana restaurant and then the Hen and the Hound. The building was last used by Valley View Liquidators, who moved down to Main Street last year. The property has no parking spaces though the restaurants were allowed to use the parking lot behind the building that is owned by Our Lady of the Valley Church during non-church times.

Ms. Diller was told she had to go to the zoning board of appeals to convert the building back into a home. Her first stop is the zoning officer.

If the conversion is not approved, Ms. Diller said she would look for a business to fill it, possibly a smoke or vape shop.

Speaking to the board virtually, she told members that she wants to paint the buildings she owns and wants to follow the rules, though she added, that she wants to make sure that everyone follows the rules.