In response to David's questions:
1) The study conducted by the Library board (with support of CPED.)
- Jim Nelson studied the idea of constructing a 4 story building
with 24 units of condos (occupying the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th floors of the
building), a library on the first level, and 60 parking spaces underground.
I do not have the study here at home (but wanted to respond before Monday)
but I am 95% sure the report did not indicate that the library would only be
half the size of the current library. A building covering most of the site
(which I believe is what Jim was referencing) would be more than a 20,000
square foot footprint. There would need to be space dedicated to elevator
shafts, stairways, etc., so I do not know the exact square footage he
attributed to the library.
- The report indicated that there may be a gap of approximately $3.8
million. The report never looked at how the gap might be covered. As with
any public building, there is always a gap between existing facility
resources and new facility resource needs. Consequently, the challenge is
always finding the dollars to make the project happen. The report did not
look for other sources of funds.
- The report never evaluated or compared the operational or
maintenance costs associated with the existing building versus a new mixed
use building.
2) Potential funding sources.
- A quick look at the project reveals the following potential
resources:
- $1.5 million on the land sale (this is what Jim indicted
in his study.)
- $1.1 million already earmarked for the deck repairs and
other conditions in the current building.
- $1.5 million in tax abatement (tax abatement is different
from TIF.) TIF requires blight and cannot be used for libraries. Tax
abatement does not require blight and can be used for libraries. (The city
will need to modify the current tax abatement policy to allow for the use of
tax abatement funds for libraries. Current city policy only allows for
historical preservation and an underground parking lot/ transit station.)
- This totals $4.1 million. A more thorough look may reveal
other available resources.
3) The question of more high-intensity development at Lagoon and Hennepin
- Uptown will greatly benefit from appropriate high intensity
development in its core. The corner of Lagoon and Hennepin is right next to
a major transit station. The corner of Lagoon and Hennepin is a great
location for a mixed use development which will contribute to making Uptown
a more vibrant, walkable, and sustainable area. Could other areas also gain
from higher intensity developments, sure. But Uptown needs these types of
developments too.
4) What can be gained from a task force?
- At a minimum - answer questions not addressed by the consultant's
report, including:
- Evaluate and compare the operational and maintenance costs
associated with the existing building versus a new mixed use building. (This
is crucial given the library's challenging operational financial situation.)
- Address specific design issues, including the size of the
library, size of the building (for the record it was CM Schiff who mentioned
an 8 or 12 story building), potential mixed uses (housing, office, retail,
etc.), etc.
- Determine available resources for closing a development gap.
In closing, I have never and will never propose and/or support the closing
of the Walker Library in Uptown. I want to ensure a grand library serving
the Uptown community. I look forward to walking with my 2 1/2 year old twins
to a great library in Uptown. That is why I approached the Library board 2
years ago when I learned that the Met Council was selling the old Walker
Library building (they had purchased it to build the transit station.) Now
that is a great building for a public library!! I was told by the library
board that the numbers did not work. Given the Met council's need to sell
the building in short timeframe, I was unable to put together a proposal
before the sale was completed. My conversations with the Met Council
indicated that they were willing to be a partner in moving the library back
into the old Walker Library building. The building sold for $800,000. That
was truly an opportunity lost. The same resources noted above could have
been brought to the table. In addition, we may have been able to pursue
historical preservation dollars or other resources.
I believe the corner of Lagoon and Hennpin could be a much more grand urban
corner. Urban areas are made by the interaction that occurs between people
on the sidewalk and people inside the buildings adjacent to the sidewalks.
Think of great urban spaces. They have buildings that are connected to the
street life. Buildings underground cannot achieve this. There is no chance
for interaction. From a public safety perspective, people inside underground
buildings are unable to contribute to the safety of individuals on the
sidewalk as well as vice versa. Coined "Eyes on the street" speaks to the
importance of the ability of people inside and outside of buildings to watch
out for each other and make urban areas safe. From a people perspective,
cars should be housed underground, not people.
Before we spend another $1 million dollars in repairs, I hope the Library
Board partners with the City in looking at what is the best way to ensure
that the Uptown community has the library it deserves; one that provides
excellence in library services, contributes to a great urban environment,
and strengthens (including financially) the Minneapolis public library
system.
As libraries encourage us, let us open our minds to the possibilities...
Dan Niziolek
10th Ward City Council
Uptown resident
Previously a youth who spent so much time in libraries that I won a contest
for reading the most books in a summer. (For the record, the libraries were
above ground.)
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