The Arlington City Council on Tuesday approved spending $24.9 million to replace the current Central Library in downtown with a new building just north of City Hall.
Council members unanimously agreed to a resolution that would amend the City's FY 2014 capital budget to fund the project, which also would include an outdoor plaza, related site parking and a joint use council chamber and library meeting space.
The project will be paid for by issuing $19.5 million in certificates of obligation and by using $4.1 million from the Arlington Tomorrow Fund and $1.3 million from the natural gas drilling fund. The Arlington Public Library Foundation will supplement public funding through a capital campaign expected to kick off later this summer.
The funding approval now provides some momentum to what has been a lengthy process of deciding if, how and when to replace the George W. Hawkes Central Library, currently located just east of Arlington City Hall. The 40-year-old building has needed extensive maintenance and repairs recently and asbestos in the building presents additional challenges.
City officials said a new, larger facility would better meet the needs of Arlington patrons.
"This is a once in a life-time opportunity for Arlington residents-to participate in the rebuilding of the city's Central Library,' said Cary Siegfried, the director of libraries. "It's exciting.'
What will be housed inside was largely defined in the Central Library Visioning study, which was completed in January 2012 after several years of public input and surveys, Siegfried said.
The report recommended that the new library should serve as: an interactive learning center for children; a real-world learning center for teens; a community collective for literacy and workforce development; a catalyst for meeting, learning and gathering and a living archive of resources that celebrate Arlington.
"We know what will go into that new building so that puts us ahead of the game,' Siegfried said.
Specific additions could include enhanced programs for children and teens with age-appropriate zones and dedicated study and computing space, additional meeting spaces and outdoor gathering places, a public technology area, a quiet room, literacy programming, genealogy materials, self-service opportunities and a used bookstore operated by the Friends of the Arlington Public Library.
The new facility is expected to house approximately 80,000 square feet of library space and 6,500 square feet of meeting space to serve as a shared Council Chambers and library programming area.
"This allows us to share some facilities which would reduce the cost of the new library so we can afford it in our capital budget,' said Jim Parajon, the community development and planning director.
The project is planned just north of City Hall and south of the railroad tracks. Mayor Robert Cluck and several council members at the May 13 work session inquired about keeping Main Street open through the area.
Parajon said that under the current design, the street could be left open without hindering the library project.
Private developers are exploring building a complex on the existing library site that could include offices, restaurants, apartments and a parking structure. The move could generate revenue, possibly reducing taxpayer cost of the library project and spurring additional downtown redevelopment, Parajon said.
Headlines, Library, News