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MONTLAKE BRANCH COMMUNITY MEETING RECAP

7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Monday, March 26, 2001
Montlake Community Center

Approximately 50 people attended this community meeting to discuss siting the new Montlake Library. City Librarian Deborah L. Jacobs welcomed the attendees and thanked them for their interest in the new Montlake branch. Jacobs introduced some of the staff and Library Board members present at the meeting, including Library Board members Gilbert W. Anderson (Montlake Library board steward), Gordon McHenry Jr. (board president), and Linda Larson (board vice president). Also present were Sue Partridge, Library senior capital projects manager, and Rae Charlton, Montlake Library branch manager.

Gil Anderson stated the purpose of the meeting was to revisit opportunities and challenges of three previously identified sites, as well as to review two new site possibilities that emerged since the Library's last public meeting in Montlake on June 20, 2000. Anderson noted siting work had been taking place over the last 10 months.

Eight sites were described at the public meeting of June 20, 2000. In July 2000, the Library Board narrowed the number of sites to three. Sue Partridge briefly discussed those three sites and reviewed the comments received to date, as follows:

OPPORTUNITIES AND CHALLENGES FOR EACH SITE

SITE 2: Northeast corner of 24th Avenue East & East McGraw Street -- Includes 3 residences

SITE 3: 24th Avenue East & East Boston Street (Montlake Professional Building) -- Includes Metro rectifier & 1 commercial building

SITE 7: Museum of History and Industry (off 24th Avenue East overpass) -- Includes no homes or businesses

At this time Partridge introduced two additional potential sites for public discussion:

SITE A: Northwest corner of 24th Avenue East & East McGraw Street - Includes 2-3 residences (duplex, currently listed for sale)

SITE B: University of Washington property, west of the Museum of History and Industry site, abutting the alley south of East Hamlin Street

Board members relayed the information that the Library had expressed interest to the seller of the duplex at 24th Avenue East and East McGraw, but that no formal purchase offer had been made, pending the outcome of the community meeting. The city librarian and board members received and responded to comments and questions regarding the three original sites and two additional sites. There appeared to be no strong consensus around any one of the sites. An attendee suggested a straw poll to determine what sites community members felt should remain under consideration. Library staff did not keep an official tally of the straw poll votes, however it appeared the greatest interest among those present was in the Museum of History and Industry building and the site at the northwest corner of 24th Avenue East and East McGraw.

At the close of the meeting, Gilbert Anderson thanked everyone for attending and reiterated the importance of public involvement in the process of siting and building a new library. Jacobs detailed the next steps in the siting process:

NEXT STEPS

• Library will continue to collect & compile public comment. Comment forms are available in the Montlake Library or by calling the Library's Capital Program Office at 386-4624. Comments also may be e-mailed to capital.program@spl.org or faxed to 386-4108.
• Library Board will hear public comments at its public meetings on March 27 and May 7 at 4:30 p.m. at the Central Library, 1000 Fourth Ave., 3rd floor Lee Auditorium
• Library Board anticipates selecting a site at the May 7 public meeting
• Architect selection process
• Construction expected to begin in 2003

Content Modified: Content Modified:4 June 2001

08/11/2006

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