Nichols Library expansion

[momof3]

Wondering if anyone has an opinion about this. I am pro. Nichols is a great library but could use a facelift and expansion, imo. I say if you're going to build a parking deck next to it, include the expansion and get it all done at once.


City officials hesitate on parking deck contract

By Kate R. Houlihan
staff writer

Perhaps a sequel is in the works regarding a Nichols Library expansion.

City officials delayed awarding a $1 million contract to Chicago-based Loebl, Schlossman & Hackl for designs and construction engineering of a proposed parking deck adjoining the downtown library because some council members remained concerned over a library expansion not being included in the plans.

Councilman Douglas Krause said he would vote against the contract not because he wanted a library expansion – Krause has been vocal about the need for a fourth branch – but because he says a parking deck would be better placed near Washington Street.

However, his comments got the ball rolling.

"I too will be voting no, but for a different reason," Councilman John Rosanova said. "I still believe the library board expansion request should be considered rather than eliminating that option altogether. I think we should put the option of expanding Nichols library along with this."

Officials sent a 30,000-square-foot, $7.1 million request to the council. Plans for that space included consolidating office functions from all three branches, which would free up space at the other libraries; and creating patron activity space.

But the council wanted the library to look at other options, such as building a fourth branch or renting space for administration.

At a workshop last month, the council took a straw poll against including an expansion in designs for the deck. But Councilwoman Mary Ellingson was quick to remind her colleagues that workshop decisions aren't set in stone.


Contact Kate Houlihan at [e-mail] or [phone].

Article from April...

Council shuts down plans to expand Nichols LibraryNaperville Sun, The (IL)
April 26, 2006
Author: Kate R. Houlihan
Estimated printed pages: 2

The City Council has closed the book on expanding Nichols Library.

While always in the back of library officials' minds, it was the proposed parking deck construction at the downtown library site that inspired the library board to move ahead with a revised capital improvement project request in January and ask for the 30,000-square-foot, $7 million expansion.

That growth would allow for more office and patron space at the busy building, which officials have said will help ease crowding at all three facilities. Personnel space freed up at Naper Boulevard and 95th Street could be used for patron activities, according to the library.

Monday, the council met in a workshop to discuss whether or not to include a library expansion in the designs for the city's parking deck. But council members said a fourth facility could be a better solution than an expansion, and with downtown parking at a premium, parking needed to be the priority.

"You're just going to be cramming more people downtown in reality," said Councilman Douglas Krause. "And we're trying to get congestion alleviated in the downtown."

Krause said vacant land near Ogden Avenue and River Road on the northwest side of town might be a place for a fourth building.

Library board President Stephanie Cassioppi said studies have shown the three facilities serve residents well. She said a building in the northwest might attract more people from neighboring communities who would live closer to that library than their own, rather than northwest Naperville residents.

Councilman James Boyajian said he was unsure about an expansion when he is struggling with the overall vision of the library.

"I just don't know when we stop," he said. "When do we stop? I just don't understand how adding to this facility is going to solve your problem."

Councilwoman Darlene Senger said she believes there is the need for a branch in the north part of town and that programs being offered by the library are very similar to those being provided by the Y or Park District. Those library programs, she said, could be taking up space that could be freed up.

Cassioppi said the board hasn't said no to a fourth library, but that it wanted to see if an expansion would be economically smart being done in conjunction with the parking deck.

"They've very clearly stated the need for more public space," Councilwoman Mary Ellingson said. "My opinion is to pursue it because I think there's a savings and an economy of doing the two together. ... If we don't do it now, we lose the opportunity."

The unofficial vote had Ellingson and Mayor George Pradel in favor, with Senger, Krause, Boyajian, Councilman Richard Furstenau and Councilman Grant Wehrli against.

Library Director Donna Dziedzic said the board will go back and look at the space needs assessment as they go into a new strategic planning phase. She said the big concern with building a fourth facility is that it would add to the library's overall operating budget, which she said they try to keep at a reasonable level.

"It's disappointing," Cassioppi said. "We think we still have a need for more library space.

• Contact Kate Houlihan at [e-mail] or [phone].

[momof3]

momof3 said:

Monday, the council met in a workshop to discuss whether or not to include a library expansion in the designs for the city's parking deck. But council members said a fourth facility could be a better solution than an expansion, and with downtown parking at a premium, parking needed to be the priority.

"You're just going to be cramming more people downtown in reality," said Councilman Douglas Krause. "And we're trying to get congestion alleviated in the downtown."

This really had me scratching my head. The library folks want to include the expansion along with the construction of a parking deck.

But one councilman wants to relieve parking problems downtown by keeping people away from the library? Wha-huh? Don't library patrons do other stuff downtown, like shop and eat?

Should we just start advertising that downtown Naperville is a crime-ridden dump and everyone should keep away?...that would 'relieve congestion' too!

[momof3]

I suppose the library is trying to generate some public support. If you care, this is a good time to add your 2 cents / show your support.

www.naperville.il.us/dynamic_content.aspx?id=2308

Proposed Layouts for New Nichols Library Parking Deck and Possible Library Expansion to be Presented to the Public on August 29

NAPERVILLE, Ill.— The City of Naperville will host a public meeting to introduce potential layouts of the new Nichols Library parking deck, the possible library expansion and potential funding options to pay for the new proposed parking deck. The meeting will be held on Tuesday, August 29, 2006 from 3 p.m. to 8 p.m. in meeting rooms A, B and C in the lower level of the Municipal Center. The meeting will be an open house format with two presentations on the potential funding options at 3:30 p.m. and 7 p.m.

The new proposed parking deck is estimated to increase the number of parking spaces to roughly 350 versus the 120 spaces that currently exist. The new parking facility will provide additional parking for employees and visitors of downtown Naperville. In conjunction with the new parking deck, an expansion of the library is proposed to provide increased customer service to library patrons.

This informational meeting is open to the public and all residents and business owners are encouraged to attend. Representatives from the City of Naperville will be available at the public meeting to discuss the project and answer questions on an individual basis. If you have questions or comments regarding this project, please contact Project Engineer Kim Grabow by phone at [phone] or by e-mail at [e-mail].

[EagleDad]

There's enough Library downtown in my opinion. Spread it out in the surrounding areas where people can actually get to it and use it (i.e. another branch).

Keep the issues (parking, expansion) seperate. Tying them together sure seems like Pork.

[momof3]

I have to disagree about the pork comment, ED.
If they surround Nichols with a parking garage (which they are pretty much for sure moving forward with), then in 5 years decide to expand, I think their options will be limited (I can hear the naysayer chorus: POOR PLANNING!).
As for other locations, there seems to be ulterior motives in some of the calls for another branch. The property I hear tossed around is Mayneland Farm (or whatever) on N. Mill. That is like half a mile from Nichols, and at the far north end of Naperville. How many people would that serve? The people that live around there have been fighting high density housing on that property and suddenly that's where the 4th library should go?

[EagleDad]

I think there's a way they can design a parking garage, and leave space for a future expansion. Are they building a parking garage a four-sided square completely surrounding the library?

If future expansions interests them, by all means they should design the garage with it in mind, but don't hold the garage hostage to try to slip in an expansion, IMO.

I'd put Mayneland at over a mile from Nichols. It seems like a good location to me, both the far North and North west seem underserved. That River/Ogden location would be really good.

I guess the point is, the more, smaller branches you have, the more people can get to them, rather than centralizing it all in one huge library downtown.

If Nichols puts up too much fuss, I'd pitch the whole deal an let them stew with nothing for a few years

[wvhsparent]

Push is on for north-side library, but Naperville system balks
By Jake Griffin
Daily Herald Staff Writer
Posted Wednesday, October 11, 2006

A residents group is joining the small chorus of city councilmen asking Naperville library officials to consider building a fourth facility on the city’s north side.

An online petition has been created and yard signs are going up in support of adding a library at the corner of Mill Street and Bauer Road on the Mayneland Farm property.

“It’s been a lot of people’s bright idea,” said Terry Hopkins, webmaster of www.napervoice.com. “If the city buys that land it could benefit a whole lot of people.”

The 15-acre site is estimated to be worth between $7.5 million and $9 million. The current owners have used the land to operate a small farm for decades but recently tried to sell to a developer that wanted to build townhouses. The council nixed that proposal.

So far, about 150 people have signed Hopkins’ online petition and picked up more than 300 yard signs supporting the campaign, he said. His supporters also have some councilmen in their corner who would like to see a small library built on the north side instead of expanding downtown’s Nichols Library.

“They say the squeaky wheel gets the oil,” Councilman Doug Krause said. “Maybe it’s time for the people on the northwest side to say ‘What about us?’”

Oddly, the group is lacking support from the library system itself. Library officials are pressing for a 30,000-square-foot expansion of Nichols to coincide with the city’s construction of a parking deck.

Robert Jusino, who lives near the proposed north-side site and contributes to Hopkins’ Web site, said it’s a hard sell without the library’s support.

“It’s the same problem we had when we wanted to turn the land into a park and didn’t get support of the park district,” he said.

Jusino said the city’s purchase of the parcel could accomplish three things: The city would get a fourth library, the watershed for Cress Creek could be stabilized, and land would be available to expand an overcrowded Mill Street Elementary School.

“All these sides need to get together and start talking about these things,” he said. “The library’s not going to need all the land and the school district isn’t going to need all the land, but combined they could all use some.”

Library officials have said building a new library could cost twice as much as expanding Nichols, and operating the facility would cost upward of $4 million annually compared to the $100,000 annual operating cost of an expansion. That’s without the land costs.

“It’s a pretty costly way to go,” said library board President Bill Mitchell. “It would also cost several million to get that part of Bauer Road between Washington and Mill streets up to city standards.”

The council is expected to vote on the expansion plan at its Oct. 17 meeting. Hopkins expects a number of supporters of the fourth library site at Mill and Bauer to speak.




--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

dailyherald.com

[204parent]

How far from Nichols would the new library be?

[wvhsparent]

This is also one of the comps I think BB is trying to use...... 15 Acres for 7.5 to 9 million.
that's 500k to 600k/Acre to build townhomes.

[bob]

The developer was going to sell the townhomes for $400k-$600k. That is why the price is so high for the land.

It is also an area where 2000 sq ft homes sell for $400k+.

Our area cannot support $400k townhomes. Look how well those English Garden homes did on the SW side.

[momof3]

204parent said:

How far from Nichols would the new library be?

Mapquest says 1.65 miles.

Nichols to 95th Street Library = 6.83 miles

Nichols to Naper Blvd Library = 4.76 miles

I think the problem is that there are too many ulterior motives going on.

The library folks want to consolidate some offices and offer more programming space at Nichols. The parking garage is a good tie in for that.

The petition folks don't want townhouses at Mill and Bauer. They want anything there but townhouses. The park district won't buy it so now they want the library to buy it.

Some council members don't want a parking garage at Nichols at all. They want to kill the expansion and the parking garage with one stone. They are enlisting the help of "neighbors" who don't want to "live next to a 3 story building" (according to the Sun). Last time I checked, that was 3 houses (none directly next to it, one across the street on Jefferson, one across the street on Eagle, and one kitty-corner). And the house on Eagle is already next door to the 3 story ARRC.

(as a side note, why are the expansion and a 4th branch mutually exclusive?)

Commentary in last weeks Sun...

City can't please all with library expansion

October 6, 2006
The title of this column - an assemblage of observations, notes and thoughts about Naperville - is in tribute to The Sun's late editor and publisher, Harold E. White Jr.

It was a marathon, although I'm told some have lasted longer. Tuesday's five-hour City Council session seemed to me a perfect illustration of the push and pull forces of development versus preservation.


Simply put, you can't have it both ways.

And this is exactly what led to the deadlocked vote on the Nichols Library expansion and parking deck.

Here's where the dilemma rests as I see it: the Jefferson Avenue facility is as much a destination as a library. I bet plenty of Napervillians - from the farthest reaches of the city - are regulars there for the simple reason that it's a great way to combine a trip downtown with a visit to the library. Can't you see it: "Honey, why don't we drop off the kids at the library while we do a little shopping at Eddie Bauer ... or have a late lunch at Rosebud?" I could go on and on. So the library, in its present state, is always going to be crowded. I'd even guess that motorists have used the Nichols' parking lot without ever having set foot in the library.

An extension and parking deck seem an obvious solution. But that's when things get a little hairy. I, for one, would hate to live in such a desirable downtown area and see a four- or five-story parking structure suddenly sprout from the fertile Midwest soil, blocking my once pristine view.

Then there's the Jefferson Avenue entry to downtown, the one I usually take. I like to look at the stately Victorian homes and make negative comments about the architecture of the teardown monstrosities as I navigate the series of stop signs, the ones everyone politely stops at. The library, sitting as the very gateway to downtown, is my signal that I'm there. I can't imagine how that would look with a big Erector set-like parking deck.

But this is all aesthetics. The library needs an expansion and more parking. Councilwoman Darlene Senger also addressed the need for possibly a fourth city library, a notion that was seemingly endorsed by Mayor Pradel.

A serious issue with the accordant serious deliberations. More from the council in two weeks. Expansion and parking are important matters - and so are aesthetics.

[cantretirehere]

Today's D.H. article on the parking garage at Nichols said that the garage would cost $14,000,000 for "roughly" 450 spaces. They already spent $4,500 for a traffic study concerning the impact for the garage. Together, that's "roughly" $31,121.11 a space.

I personally have never had a problem parking downtown, at the library or anywhere else, for that matter. I've been down there a lot on various days of the week and at various times of the day. Wait, change that. I had a problem once, a week and a half before Christmas at lunch hour, a couple of years ago. I actually had to walk 2 blocks from where I parked to where I was having lunch. Horror of horrors.

I don't want to pay $31,121 per space for additional parking. If stores are willing and able to pay the jacked up the rents downtown, then they should be able and willing to pay for additional parking that the city believes is needed. The store owners are the ones that are profiting. Let them pay for it.

Personally, I think I'll just drive up to Geneva, IL and shop in their beautiful and unique shops, not the 'mall stores' that are taking over Naperville's downtown. If I want the Gap and Eddie Bauer, I'll go to the mall.

[momof3]

A few points -

1 - If the other parking decks are any precident, you won't pay for it - the merchants and sales tax will

2 - You must never go downtown on the weekend - day or night - parking is extremely tight

3 - Free parking is credited with making the downtown vibrant - see the following excerpt

4 - I have friends that live in Geneva; they would be thrilled to collect your sales tax dollars and spend it to make their town even nicer!



Excerpt from 'Why Everybody Loves Naperville' in Chicago Magazine:

Happenstance didn’t spark all this energy. Free parking did. In the mid-1970s, the subdivision edges of Naperville were growing at what then seemed a fast pace (subsequent decades would later make the 1970s look sluggardly), but the downtown area was “sleepy,” says Patti Roberts, head of the Naperville Business Alliance. Old-line Naperville shops heard their death knell ringing from seven miles away when the Fox Valley Mall opened on the eastern edge of Aurora, just outside western Naperville. City officials and business leaders “got together and made a very key decision in the life of downtown Naperville,” she says. “They got rid of all the parking meters, to compete with the mall on free parking. And parking has been free in Naperville ever since.”

[cantretirehere]

1 - If the other parking decks are any precident, you won't pay for it - the merchants and sales tax will I hope so.

2 - You must never go downtown on the weekend - day or night - parking is extremely tight Yes I have, I haven't had a problem. ETA - or is it that I have lived here so long that I have, over time, discovered "creative" parking places so I don't have to park far, even during special events. - Nah, I've just not had much of a problem. Even when I was recovering from knee surgery, I didn't have a problem with the distances I had to walk (limp, crutch) when parking downtown.

3 - Free parking is credited with making the downtown vibrant - see the following excerpt 14 millions dollars isn't free. It has to come from somewhere. But, I didn't say I wanted customers or library patrons to pay to park in garages. The store and restaurant owners should pay because they are the ones creating the traffic and reaping the benefits.

4 - I have friends that live in Geneva; they would be thrilled to collect your sales tax dollars and spend it to make their town even nicer! I'm happy to be helping them out. I love their town and their stores. ;D

As for the article's excerpt. I think the river walk is what "sparked the energy", not free parking. If there isn't anything at the destination, all the free parking in the world isn't going to make a difference.

[momof3]

CRH - If you have an opinion about how the parking deck should be financed, you should email the city council members because the funding has not been decided yet.

This is an excerpt I received from a city employee:
The options for financing the parking decks will be presented to the
City Council at their meeting on Monday, November 6, 2006. I understand
that staff is seeking feedback from the Council regarding the funding
sources at this meeting.

The City Council packet should be on the city's website Friday.