News - Local History Archives

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August 4, 2005
Grosse Pointe News News
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Drawings courtesy of Fanning: Howey Assoc, and the Grosse Pointe Pubic Library
Under the Replacement Option, above, the existing Central Library would be razed and a new, two story,
50,000-square-foot building would be erected in its place. Parking, below, would be underground and
beneath the Grosse Pointe South High School boys ball field and the new library. The Central Library
options were presented to the library board July 25. No official action has been taken on them.
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Above is the Expansion and Renovation Option for the Grosse Pointe Central Library. Under this plan,
the old Central Branch library would be kept and a second building would be built in back, see above. Parking
would be beneath the existing Grosse Pointe South boys baseball diamond, below, which would be
replaced with an artificial turf field.
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Library
From page 1A
Central branch. It would
also renovate the existing
building.
A replacement two-story
building of 52,000 square
feet would be supported by
single-level underground
parking with 150 spaces.
Mumby said he is assuming
all parking would have
to be on-site. He said municipal
parking ordinances call
for one parking space for
every 150 square feet of
usable space. However, he
said that requirement is
based on more intense use
than a public library.
He believes the library
board can negotiate for a
lesser requirement of one
space for every 300 square
feet of usable space. He said
a plan in the 1980s used a
formula of one space for
every 360 square feet of
usable floor space.
Under the replacement
plan, underground parking
would run from roughly the
left field line of the ball diamond
to Fisher Road.
Entrance and egress would
be off Kercheval. The ball
field would have to be set
back 30 additional feet from
Kercheval.
At the l-to-300 parking to
square-footage ratio, 180
parking spaces would easily
allow for a new 50,000square-foot,
two story
Central Branch. The existing
branch would be torn
down, and replaced by the
new building. Library access
from the underground parking
would be in the heart of
the new library building.
If the existing library
building were to be kept and
renovated, a second twostory
building of equivalent
size could be added in the
.m
^Business id picking tip,"**
least at the Grosse Pointe
Public Library.
Director Vicki Bloom
reported at the Monday,
July 25, library board meeting
that the number of items
checked out in June at the
new Ewald Branch was up
29.5 percent over a year ago.
Likewise, the number of
borrowers increased 28.1
rear where current library
parking is located.
Underground parking,
however, could not be
extended under the existing
library and would be roughly
limited to the size of the
baseball field and incorporate
about 140 parking
spaces. Under the l-to-300
formula, the existing library
space could be roughly doubled
to 42,000 square feet.
Mumby said underground
parking costs between
$25,000 and $35,000 a stall
to build, or roughly $3.5 million
to $5.25 million. He said
a utilities survey and soil
borings would need to be
completed, and discussions
would need to begin with the
municipality and school district.
"There is obviously a
tremendous amount of due
diligence needed on a project
of this scope," Weaver said.
Mumby said the Central
Branch would be closed
about 18 months under
either plan. He said it is premature
to estimate construction
costs.
Library Director Vicki
Bloom said temporary space
would need to be located,
possibly in vacant commercial
space nearby.
Mumby said the new ball
field and supporting underground
superstructure could
possibly be in place within 4
1/2 months, perhaps over a
winter.
Library board Vice
President James Haley said
underground parking has a
negative connotation and
that safety may be a concern.
"Having a library in a
downtown area is like having
an anchor store,"
Mumby said. "It is good for
business."
usage ^ v
p*t**sfl*^*i Jtm* 2005 over
June 2004, and teen books
checked out increased 23.2
percent over the same period.
When asked whether the
increases were seen only at
the Ewald Branch, Bloom
commented that library
usage was up overall.
— John Minnis
Library board elects officers
The Grosse Pointe Library
Board elected new officers at
its Monday, July 25, meeting.
They are Harvey Weaver,
president; James Haley, vice
president; Dave Bergeron,
treasurer; and Lisa Bartel,
secretary. Filling out the
seven-member board are
Trustees Kay McDonald,
Robert Klacza and Edwin
Frederickson, who was
named to fill a vacancy due
to the resignation of longtime
board member John
Bruce.
— John Minnis
Extraordinary in every facet
Celebrate your past, present and future
with a three stone diamond pendant in 18k white gold.
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20139 Mack Avenue, Grosse Poiltfe Vfeodt, Ml 46236
800-967-AHEE • 313-886-4600
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