Why did the Appleton Public Library have to move a second time? Don't blame the landlord

Reader question: What was the hurry to get the Appleton Public Library out of the old Best Buy building? Nothing has gone in there.

Answer: Not everything goes according to schedule in local government, the construction industry or the retail market.

The twists and turns of Appleton's $40.4 million library project is a prime example of that.

Appleton signed an 18-month lease — from March 2022 through August 2023 — with Commercial Horizons at a discounted rate to temporarily house the library in the former Best Buy store at 2411 S. Kensington Drive. It was anticipated the period would be sufficient to complete the library renovation and expansion at 225 N. Oneida St. It wasn't.

The lease was extended to the end of 2023, but Commercial Horizons was unwilling to extend it again because the company was working with three national tenants willing to pay market rates for the space. Paul Klister, president of Commercial Horizons, expected the leases would be signed and the renovation would begin in January.

That hasn't happened as swiftly as he once thought, but it's still the plan. Klister said he is close to signing leases to fill not only the former Best Buy store, but also the former OfficeMax store.

"The retail world does not move very quickly these days," Klister said, adding that he hoped to announce the tenants within the next 30 days.

Klister is not the bad guy here.

He has worked behind the scenes to help the city though the fits and starts of the library project.

Watchdog Q&A: Duke Behnke answers your local government questions

Before the lease with the city was signed, Klister had to secure permission from Home Depot for the library to occupy the Best Buy space because Home Depot has an exclusive-use provision that allows only retail in the corridor. When the library was delayed due to design and cost issues, Klister went back to Home Depot to get permission to extend the lease through 2023.

And when it became apparent the library would need to move a second time, it was Klister who led the city to partner with the Thompson Center on Lourdes for temporary use of the former Habitat ReStore at 3000 E. College Ave.

For all his effort to help the city, Klister worried that he somehow would become the fall guy for the library having to move a second time.

"Somebody (was bound) to think that I kicked them out of there, when it was the exact opposite," Klister said. "Not only did I not kick them out, I got them an extension, and I also found them a new home in what will be the Thompson Center."

Mayor Jake Woodford said Klister and Commercial Horizons have been a great help to the city throughout the library project.

"Ultimately, moving the library to a second temporary location led to even more positive benefit for the community through our partnership with Thomson Center on Lourdes," Woodford said.

The library project is on track for an opening in early 2025, and the fundraising effort has reached $11 million of its $12 million goal.

Post-Crescent reporter Duke Behnke answers your questions about local government. Send questions to dbehnke@gannett.com or call him at 920-993-7176.

This article originally appeared on Appleton Post-Crescent: What was the rush to get the Appleton library out of the old Best Buy?