The Seattle Public Library board of trustees has narrowed to two the potential sites for the new Northgate Library. The Library Board also approved pursuing the acquisition of one of the sites, a portion of two parcels along Fifth Avenue Northeast, north of Northeast 105th Street. The board took the unanimous action at its Jan. 22 meeting.
The Library Board narrowed potential sites to:
The vote clears the way for the Library to negotiate and buy the Fifth Avenue parcels, while retaining the south lot as a possible library site. In recent months, Library staff members have pursued options to buy the Fifth Avenue properties. The next step is for the Library to negotiate a purchase and sale agreement with the owner.
The Fifth Avenue sites are in the heart of the retail and commercial core of Northgate and also are close to residential areas. The sites have good access to transit and are highly visible. The Seattle Parks and Recreation Department also is exploring locating a community center and park adjacent to the library.
Library Board members said they thought the south lot also had potential to be a good library site, but they stressed the Library couldn't afford to develop the site alone. They explained the Library could sell the Fifth Avenue sites if a coordinated, funded development plan emerged for the south lot in a timeframe that fits the library's needs and building schedule. The $5.1 million branch is scheduled to open in 2004.
"This keeps our options open," said Greg Maffei, board vice president and steward for the Northgate branch.
The new 10,000-square-foot branch will have a new collection of 40,200 books and materials, reading and homework areas for children and youth, computer work stations and instruction areas and a meeting room.
Finding a site for the new Northgate Library has long been a priority. In 2000, the Library held two community meetings to discuss locations. In March 2000, the Library Board narrowed to six the number of potential sites for the new branch.
Since then, the Library, city agencies and community members have taken part in more than a dozen workshops and meetings on siting public projects in Northgate. In May 2001, the Library and other agencies launched a series of open houses to keep the public involved and continue the momentum toward planning and development.
The new library is part of the $196.4 million "Libraries for All" bond measure that Seattle voters passed in 1998. The plan calls for improving or replacing all 22 branch libraries, building five new branches and building a new central library.
The Seattle Public Library Foundation is in the midst of a "Campaign for Seattle's Public Libraries" with the goal of raising $75 million from private sources to enhance the public bond commitment. Every dollar raised will ensure the library system reflects our community's needs in buildings, books, technology and people, long into the future. For more information about "Libraries for All" or the Foundation, visit the Library's Web site at www.spl.org.
(For more information, call Caroline Young Ullmann, communications assistant, at 206-615-1627.)
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Content modified: 24 January 2002
12/30/2005
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