National Trust Community Investment Corporation’s Post

National Trust Community Investment Corporation reposted this

Few things will last forever, but Cincinnati's Mercantile Library is on track to come pretty close. In 1845, the Young Men’s Mercantile Library Association signed a 10,000 year lease with Cincinnati College that guarantees the library will remain on that same plot of land until the year 11845. The price of this lease? $10,000 or $1 per year. Today the Historic Mercantile Building—named after the library it houses on its upper-most floors—is debuting anew and strengthening its commitment to the library. Following a multi-year restoration and renovation project led by the Model Group, this former office building now offers much-needed housing in the city’s downtown neighborhood. The library was given more space in the building to grow its programming and collection and new tenants will receive automatic membership to the library. In partnership with the National Trust Community Investment Corporation, a subsidiary of the National Trust, the project was made possible by Federal Historic Tax Credits and numerous credits from the state of Ohio. Dive into the fascinating historic the library, the building, and the partnership that made this project possible: https://ow.ly/HO7J50SiRUh Photo courtesy The Model Group/Julianna Boehm Photography.

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Channing Harris

Landscape Architect (Retired), Towers|Golde

2w

Where can I buy a 10,000-year lease?! But seriously, I'm reminded of New Haven's "Institute Library", founded in 1826 for a similar mission, "to provide mutual assistance in the attainment of useful knowledge”.  Connecticut's oldest circulating library, it too is undergoing a major renovation with help from the State Bond Commission and Historic Preservation office. https://www.facebook.com/NewHavenPreservationTrust/photos/a.118086312879/10159324807957880/?type=3.

That definitely provides some certainty!

Regina McIlvain

Founder, Spokesperson, historian, singer, folklorist

3w

fascinating history! I used to visit the Mercantile Library in Manhattan when I worked near there. On East 47th St. I think? It had a comfortable reading room and some wonderful archives!

Louis-Marie Pandzou

Mentor et avocat du musée chez National Museum of African American History and Culture

3w

Very informative

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