27 July 2000

Seattle Public Library narrows sites for new Montlake Library

The Seattle Public Library board of trustees has narrowed to three the number of potential locations for the new Montlake branch.

The board reduced the list of possible sites for the 5,000-square-foot library at its July 25 meeting to:

A parcel at the northeast corner of 24th Avenue East and East McGraw Street (three residences currently on site);
the Montlake Professional Building at 24th Avenue East and East Boston Street; and
the Museum of History and Industry, off the 24th Avenue East overpass.

Gilbert W. Anderson, Library Board steward for the Montlake branch, said there is positive community support for the three sites. Montlake residents gave feedback on a total of eight possible locations at a community meeting last month.

The new library will require about 15,000 square feet to accommodate the building, parking, and landscaping. Library siting criteria requires that branches be situated in areas frequently visited by all segments of a community, close to or on primary streets and transit routes, and highly visible to passers-by.

The new Montlake Library is part of the $196.4 million "Libraries for All" building program that Seattle voters approved in 1998. The existing facility, a tiny 1,574 square feet, is located in a converted retail store at 2300 24th Ave. E. The new $2.57 million branch is scheduled to open in 2004.

For more information, visit the Library's Web site at www.spl.org. The Library encourages comments and suggestions by e-mail to capital.program@spl.org; by fax to (206) 386-4108; and by telephone to project manager Sue Partridge at (206) 615-1329 or branch manager Rae Charlton at (206) 684-4714.

Return to the Libraries for All capital projects pageSee also Montlake Library

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Content modified: 27 July 2000

12/30/2005