Construction Plans for San Diego Central Library Finally Move Forward
City council approves bid process, though not all are on board
Lynn Blumenstein -- Library Journal, 11/02/2009
- State threatens to pull $20 million contribution
- New building would represent enormous increase in space, facilities
- "Taxpayer watchdog" councilor against expenditure
Plans for a long-awaited new central library in San Diego just got a boost after years of stagnation. The city council just voted to bid out the project, as the state threatened to pull its $20 million contribution unless the action was taken, according to a local news report.
Leaders of the San Diego Public Library (SDPL) and the library foundation both expressed optimism. "To our knowledge, San Diego is one of the last of the larger cities to build a new Central Library," SDPL director Deborah Barrow told LJ.
Once begun, construction should take 36 months. The library, with 366,257 square feet (fact sheet), would represent an enormous change from the current building, which has 144,524 square feet. The auditorium capacity would nearly double, the number of volumes would increase 50 percent, and the space for children and teens would triple.
Fiscal issues
San Diego, like many cities, has its fiscal challenges, which have contributed to the delayed construction of the nine-story downtown centerpiece.
Former San Diego mayor Dick Murphy (and 2004 Library Journal Politician of the Year), who resigned in the wake of a pension scandal that damaged the city financially, was a strong supporter of the library project.
Current mayor Jerry Sanders is on record as being against using general fund money for the library's construction.Last December, LJ reported that the city was considering using $20 million from a bond measure to include a school that would occupy two floors of the library; that plan is going forward.
SDPL director, Foundation optimistic
Barrow is thankful that the Council’s recent action will result in "know[ing] for certain what the new central library will cost."
She described just how necessary the new facility is for the city. "Just as our branch libraries are the heart of their communities, our new Central Library is the heart of our library system. We will serve our branches better with materials, programs and other support, and be a center of opportunity for all San Diegans."
The SDPL Foundation’s marketing director Charlie Goldberg believes that with the "mayor’s visible leadership and Council’s vote of support, this project is showing real momentum." Private donors already have contributed $37.5 million, including $10 million for operations, he told LJ. "We believe additional supporters will now be willing to step forward."
Mayor supportive, city councilor not
Sanders earlier this year, in his annual fiscal message, expressed his support of the new library. Among his goals: to "recognize that economic cycles cannot halt our progress, by opening and operating long-planned library."
Some city council members weren’t as supportive. Council member Carl DeMaio issued a memo October 19 that itemized how much the city would save by abandoning the project ($63 million as yet unspent from the $80 million allocated to the project).
He also pointed out the redirected funds could be applied to the $179 million deficit projected for next year and beyond, according to the San Diego Union-Tribune.
