About 200 participants spread across the four public forums earlier this week discussed the various options for Ames Public Library’s future building. Many creative ideas and variations on the presented options came out of the forums.
At last night's meeting, the Ames Public Library Board of Trustees used the feedback gathered through public forums and staff meetings to narrow the field of building options down. These three options will be studied by MS&R in greater detail, including exploration of parking, accommodation of the spaces needed, functional efficiency, costs and operation of the library during construction:
Option 1: A new library placed on the land east of the city hall. The building would be between 3 and 4 stories in height. Parking could be located to the north including a single level parking structure along 6th Street. This option would involve cooperation with the bank to ensure they do not lose parking or their drive-through as well as an exploration of the maximum parking that can be provided without using the bank property. No underground parking will be included in this study.
Option 2: Remodel the 1904, 1940 and 1984 library and expand the library over Douglas Avenue, which would be closed to through traffic. The 1904 and 1940 building facades would be preserved in this option. An addition to the west on property owned by the city would be built to provide space for loading, bookmobile and deliveries. This addition would be done with full consideration of the needs of the United Methodist Church and their plans for an expansion. This option will include the study of the benefit of purchasing of the Elks Property and the house north of the funeral home for use as parking and building expansion.
Option 3: Extensively remodel the eastern portion of the 1984 library; demolish the 1940 addition and all but the exterior facade of the 1904 portion of the library for new library space. Demolish and expand the existing entrance up to the westerly property line of the existing site. An addition to the west on property owned by the city would be built to provide space for loading, bookmobile and deliveries. This addition would also be done with full consideration of the needs of the United Methodist Church.
These three options will give MS&R a starting point to create more detailed variations on each general idea. In May, Jeff Scherer will return to present their findings and gather more feedback.
Friday, March 20, 2009
Three Options Chosen for Further Study
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2 comments:
With the first meetings, I anticipated favoring a 'renovation' approach. That something expanding the library on its current footings would be the best for history and for cost. Having listened to the comments in several meetings, however, I like the 'all new' approach of building to the East of City Hall. It solves so many of the problems without being burdened by the albatross of old architecture.
I like the idea of making the 'old' library a multi-function cultural center. Combining attributes of Springfield's Children's Museum, a geneology research center, a starving artist's consignment store, support meeting rooms with restrooms, multicultural education facilities, ISU students' science projects or displays, historic collections and general public uses. Problems I see are: funding the different aspects (while it is city-owned land, someone needs to manage each part), promotion, and participation. Some of these could even be managed by ISU if they could see the benefit of a solid location.
Perhaps this is a large project that could be approached as one of the Iowa Great Places-sized projects.
I should have included moving ACTORS downtown and having an area for dance groups to rehearse.
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