Press Release

30 July 2002

 

NORTHGATE LIBRARY, COMMUNITY CENTER AND PARK TAKE A BIG STEP FORWARD

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The Seattle City Council on Monday unanimously approved the acquisition of property in Northgate at Fifth Avenue Northeast and Northeast 105th Street and the commercial site a block north, which is earmarked for a new branch library, community center and park.

Mayor Greg Nickels, who will sign the measure, in May announced a package of decisions for development at Northgate, which included strong support for locating the new facilities at the Bon Tire Center site. His action will clear the way for the Seattle Public Library and Seattle Parks and Recreation to finalize buying the 3.5 acres.

In June, the Seattle Public Library board of trustees voted to build the new library on the Bon Tire Center site, which is in the retail and commercial core of Northgate and also is close to residential areas and multifamily housing.

Two commercial buildings on the property will be demolished. A 10,000-square-foot library, a 20,000-square-foot community center and a 1.7-acre park will share the site. Parks and the Library will coordinate site planning for the new facilities.

City Librarian Deborah L. Jacobs and Parks Superintendent Ken Bounds applauded the vote.

"This is a big step forward," Jacobs said. "We're excited to deliver on our promise to bring a first-class library to Northgate."

Added Bounds: "The purchase of this property will enable us to move forward with the long-awaited park and community center for this community."

Voters in 1998 approved the Libraries for All bond measure, which included money to build a new library in Northgate. The $5,139,000 library will include 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.

In November 1999, Seattle voters renewed Seattle Proposition One, the community centers levy, which included $8.2 million for a new community center in Northgate. The community center will offer activities such as teen camps, basketball leagues, classes, after-school programs, community meetings, weddings and seniors programs.

In November 2000, Seattle voters approved the Pro Parks Levy, which included funds to purchase property for a new park in Northgate. The park will play an important part in meeting the open space needs of this densely developed neighborhood. The Pro Parks Levy provides $198.2 million for more than 100 park projects and programs throughout the city.

The Library worked for more than 2½ years with residents, other city agencies and the Mayor's Office to explore potential locations for the branch. The Library held three community meetings to discuss locations and took part, along with Parks staff, in more than a dozen workshops and meetings on siting public projects in Northgate.

The $196.4 million Libraries for All plan calls for improving or replacing all 22 branch libraries, building five new branches and building a new central library, and the community centers levy will fund new or expanded centers in 11 Seattle neighborhoods.

The Seattle Public Library Foundation is in the midst of a "Campaign for Seattle's Public Libraries" with the goal of raising $77.5 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 about the community centers levy, visit the Parks' Web site at www.ci.seattle.wa.us ; for the Pro Parks Levy, visit www.cityofseattle.net/parks .

(For more information, call Caroline Young Ullmann, Library communications assistant, at 206-615-1627, or Joelle Ligon, Parks public relations specialist, 206-233-7929.)

 

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Content modified: 07 August 2002

09/25/2002