Citizens for Sunnyvale Parks & Green Spaces: San Diego's Monumental Main Library

By Michael Goldman, co-founder with Deborah Marks of Citizens for Sunnyvale Parks and Green Spaces

To sign up for quarterly newsletters and updates send your email address to: CSPGSinfo@yahoo.com All addresses and names kept in strictest confidence - not released to any person, government agency, or organization.

Deborah Marks is also leader of Sunnyvale Urban Forests Advocates

http://www.SunnyvaleUrbanForestAdvocates.org/

11. San Diego Main Library (2013)

$185M / 498K SF = $371/sf

Inside the Dome - Click to Enlarge

The spectacular new San Diego Main Library was completed for only $371/Sq.Ft. compared to the nearly $1,000/Sq.Ft. asked for in the defeated Sunnyvale 2007 Library Bond measure. The architects who priced the 2007 library (Anderson Brule Arch. - ABA) are currently doing the "needs" assessment for Sunnyvale's library, city hall, and public safety buildings. We can hardly expect them to say it will cost less now then they estimated in 2007.

The San Diego Main library is very impressive. However, there are problems with it which I write up after the photo fest.

Click to enlarge

It was a "...funding plan that relied on grants, redevelopment funds, a deal with the school district, and private donations. One ironclad condition was set down by city officials: There would be no construction money from the city's general fund or city-issued bonds.

Entry - Click to enlarge

"Qualcomm co-founder Irwin Jacobs and his wife, Joan, donated $30 million; the late David Copley, publisher of the San Diego Union-Tribune, donated $2 million; and more than a dozen families each donated more than $1 million.

"In all, about $65 million for construction came from private donations — along with $10 million for increased operating funds so the library does not become a drag on the city budget.

"....With a financing deadline fast approaching, the city was in danger of losing a state grant. A call went out to Jacobs and other donors. In all, about 3,000 provided donations large and small." which provided the needed final amount

Above from http://articles.latimes.com/2013/sep/28/local/la-me-san-diego-library-20130929

Click to enlarge

The Library won the 2013 “Best in Show” by the Decorative Concrete Council of the American Society of Concrete Contractors. Along with 43,000 cubic yards of concrete and 850 miles of steel rebar, there are 328 concrete columns and 356 concrete “wallumns.” The lobby features an exposed structural concrete gravy arch 46′ tall and 70′ wide.

Click to enlarge

Click to Enlarge

The dome, at 143 feet in diameter and 255′ tall, is the third largest dome in North America. The widest are the Superdome at 680′ and Astrodome at 642′. The tallest are Texas Capitol at 310′ and United States Capitol at 288′.

Click to Enlarge

350 Seat Auditorium - Click to Enlarge

Outdoor Garden Courtyard and Café - Click to Enlarge

Click to Enlarge

The library is even used for weddings

Problems with Homeless and Crime

"More than a year and a half after its opening, San Diegans are still debating if the Central Library downtown was a resounding success or an utter waste of money."

There are problems. Of the 3,000 visitors a day, about 1,000 are homeless. In a span of 60 days there were 60 calls to the police (one every day on average) even though there are already uniformed guards and police present. Of those 60 calls, 11 were for violent behavior, 4 for robberies, and 9 welfare checks. Suspensions of library privileges has increased, as has the number of uniformed police on site. There is a mental health professional on the site to help deal with the ongoing problems. They have a center in the library to help veterans receive govt. benefits.

The possibility of this situation was understood before construction with one City Council member arguing the library would be a "gold-plated day-care center for the homeless."

No politicians who were involved in the debate would talk to the press about it. (That is pretty remarkable - politicians not willing to talk to the press.)

See more here:
http://www.nbcsandiego.com/news/local/San-Diego-Central-Library-Success-or-Money-Waste--292148281.html

From a community web site:

The writer goes on to talk about limited and expensive parking, elevator problems, and other design flaws. She says she will stick with her local branch library where the librarian knows the name of her daughter and her kids can walk there after school.

There are many comments immediately following the above posting on both sides of the issue. Some argue the writer is insensitive, or too sensitive. Others agree with her and say they don't want to use the restrooms because they are filthy as the homeless use the sinks to try to clean themselves.

For that and more about how spectacular the main library is, and special features of the library:
http://www.voiceofsandiego.org/central-library/why-i-probably-wont-be-back-to-the-new-central-library/

The state audit (excerpted below) includes the total of $30M (out of $185M total) expenditures from both CA and San Diego govt.: