Using the old Kroger building as the site of Athens Public Library is a good way to recycle. Too many huge buildings are being left empty when grocery or discount stores change locations.

The empty buildings are ugly and make our city look like an abandoned town. In addition, the location of the Kroger building on Jefferson Street is easy to find — unlike the library’s current location — and it would draw more people to a downtown area that sorely needs the traffic.

The site is as readily accessible to residents on the north, south, east and west sides of town, which should appeal to many of the residents in western Limestone County, who feel many businesses and public services are moving toward Interstate 65 and eastern Limestone.

If city officials decide to change zoning ordinances and allow apartments downtown, the location would be a short walk for residents there.

While the idea is a sound one, members of the Library Foundation should be sure to consider possible downfalls to an older building. The severely sloping parking lot would prevent access by elderly and handicapped, and steps and ramps would need to be added. The lower end of the lot is in a flood zone, so leveling would be necessary.

Also, while the main reason for leaving the current library is lack of space, that facility was also getting old and needed maintenance. Before moving into a building of the same age with all its possible maintenance problems, Foundation members should be sure they are not trading one headache for another.

Renovations should solve many of those problems but maintaining old buildings can be costly and filled with surprises.

If the cost of renovating would be $5 million, or about half that proposed for a new library building of the same size, this proposal would be most beneficial to the residents of Limestone County.