Information for Architects, Consultants, Contractors & Bidders
Libraries for All
Capital Program Office:
capital.program@spl.org
1000 Fourth Ave.
Seattle, WA 98104
206-386-4624
July 2001
Dear Seattle Public Library patrons and friends:
The Seattle Public Library, under its Libraries for All program, is planning on changes to improve many of its branch libraries and the Central Library. As part of the planning process, and as required by environmental regulations, the Library has considered the historic and architectural significance of its Carnegie-era buildings. This effort is part of the library's ongoing stewardship of its properties and follows the Library's earlier consideration of its Modern-era buildings that date from the 1950s and 1960s.
The historic review will result in landmark nomination reports for six Carnegie-era libraries that were built between 1910 and 1921 - the Douglass-Truth, Fremont, Green Lake, Queen Anne, University and West Seattle libraries.. Seattle's Landmarks Preservation Board is responsible for reviewing all the nominations at public meetings. The Library and its historic consultant believe that all the buildings should be given landmark status.
The landmarks board will consider whether to nominate the Green Lake and West Seattle libraries at a public meeting at 3:30 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 1, in the Arctic Building, 700 Third Ave., 10th floor, room 1003. Copies of the landmark nomination reports are available at the Temporary Central Library, 800 Pike St., the Green Lake Library, 7364 E. Green Lake Dr. N., and the West Seattle Library, 2306 42nd Ave. S.W.
The Library remains committed to its vision for improved and expanded library facilities. Regardless of the individual building's landmark status, the Library plans to select and work with qualified architectural designers, library staff and patrons, and the residents of Seattle to assure the new building designs are respectful of the qualities of the existing buildings and sensitive to community needs.
Landmark status does not preclude changes to a property. If a building is designated as a landmark, there will be design reviews with the city's landmarks board.
The city of Seattle requires that a potential landmark property be at least 25 years old and have intact original qualities. Seattle's landmark ordinance also requires that a designated property meet specific criteria.
The landmarks board already has reviewed nominations for the Ballard, Central, Henry, Lake City, Magnolia, North East and Southwest library buildings. The board voted to designate the Lake City, Magnolia and North East libraries as landmarks and not to designate the others.
If you would like to know more about the Library's building program, visit the Library's Web site at www.spl.org and select "Libraries for All capital projects." If you would like to know more about the landmarks board, contact Beth Chave, board coordinator in the city's Division of Urban Conservation, at 206-684-0380.
Sincerely,
Deborah L. Jacobs
City Librarian
Go to the Green Lake Branch page
Go to the West Seattle Branch page
Content Modified: 15 December 2006
12/15/2006
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