New Gray Library Awaits Certificate of Occupancy

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The new Washington County Library in Gray, Tennessee is still waiting to receive a certificate of occupancy to officially open, the Washington County Library Board of Trustees reported at a Monday meeting. The 15,000 square feet space on Sid Martin Road has been entirely renovated, but the opening has been delayed since last summer due to inspections and moving all materials, including more than 33,000 books, from storage over to the new location.

Why it matters

The new Gray library is a significant investment by Washington County to expand access to library resources and services for local residents. However, the delayed opening has prevented the community from fully utilizing the new facility, raising questions about the efficiency of the renovation process and the county's ability to manage large-scale public infrastructure projects.

The details

The former Citi call center building was purchased by Washington County for $4.5 million in 2024 and has undergone a full renovation to become the new 15,000 square foot Gray library location. Washington County Library staff began moving furniture and books to the new site in late January, but maintenance issues and the need for a final inspection have delayed the official opening.

• The new library space was purchased by Washington County in 2024.
• Renovation work on the former Citi call center building began in 2025.
• Washington County Library staff started moving materials to the new location in late January 2026.
• The Washington County Library Board of Trustees reported on the delayed opening at a meeting on Monday, February 10, 2026.

What’s next

Once the certificate of occupancy is acquired and the space is deemed ready, the Washington County Library Board of Trustees will announce a grand opening date for the new Gray library location.