San Diego Takes Key Step Toward New Central Library

With cost estimate capped and inclusion of school, City Council ready to act

Lynn Blumenstein -- Library Journal, 05/03/2010

• City Council approves charter school within central library
• Mayor releases updated central library cost estimates
• Council to move forward in authorizing central library

The long-planned central library in downtown San Diego is one step closer to reality as Mayor Jerry Sanders last week released an updated cost for the project, the first since 2005. Rather than increase, the construction bid came in $115,000 lower than the earlier estimate of $185 million.

The City Council on April 19 authorized a lease to include a charter school (occuping two stories of the nine-floor building) that would contribute $20 million toward the cost. However, the Council was waiting for the new bid before acting to approve library construction.

Now the council will address the issue in July after committee work in June, according to KPBS. The library, with 366,257 square feet, would represent an enormous change from the current building, which has 144,524 square feet.

The full building will be 497,652 square feet, including two levels of parking, an auditorium and coffee bar.

Fiscal realities
The San Diego Public Library's (SDPL) cost estimate for the nine-story structure library includes $144.4 million for construction costs; $21.8 million for non-construction costs such furniture, equipment, and permits; and $18.6 million already spent. The funding formula calls for $100 million from public funds and $85 million from private sources.

Funding will include a $20 million grant from the California State Library, a $20 million lease for the school, and $80 million from the San Diego Center City Development Corporation.

The San Diego Library Foundation has raised $28.5 million for construction, plus $10 million toward the first five years of operations, and is committed to raising whatever else is needed for construction.

2013 completion
After a delay of several years because of fiscal issues (city bonds couldn’t be issued because of a pension deficit), construction should move forward quickly. It must begin by August 1 to meet the deadline for the State Library grant.

The library is expected to open in 2013.