LA MESA COUNCIL BACKS EXPANDING LIBRARY, NOT BUILDING A NEW ONE

By Jacob Pamus

Photo, right: Interior of existing library

July 27, 2023 (La Mesa) – In July, 2021, La Mesa created a library task force to decide what changes would be made to the San Diego County Library in La Mesa. On July 25th, three options were presented to the La Mesa City Council. All three would result in approximately the same sized facility, around 16,000 square feet, but with different layouts. Two would entail expanding the existing structure, while the third would have authorizing construction of a new facility.

HIstory:  La Mesa’s aging library was torn down to make room for a new police department about 17 years ago. The city promised at the time to build a 20,000 square foot new library. To serve library patrons in the meantime, a 10,000 square foot library was built as a temporary measure. But a funding deal with the county fell apart, so the temporary facility is still in use.

The Options  

Diagrams are from the La Mesa Library Feasibility Study 

Option 1: A vertical expansion that would add a second floor featuring community spaces, additional staff area, study rooms, and a patio

Estimated Cost: $7,285,150

Square Footage: 10,373 SF of renovated interior space and 5,803 SF of vertical expansion.

Pros

• Extra space will not be built upon because the only expansion would be a second floor

• U.S Postal Service Office will not be removed

• The extra community space and patio creates more social spaces

• The community room can create an acoustic separation from the main library for social events

Cons

• Elevator and stairs are required

• Ceiling on the first story would be compressed to accommodate for the second story

• Framing and foundation of the first floor may need to be change to handle a second story

Option 2: A horizontal expansion that would have the U.S. Postal Service office converted into community spaces, additional staff area, study rooms, and a patio

Estimated Cost: $5,878,570

Square Footage: 9,743 of renovated interior space and 6,395 SF of renovated expansion to the connected United States Postal Service

Pros

• Since it is only the USPS office being changed, additional space is not needed

• All functions are on one floor, making it easier for the library staff to oversee all functions

• The extra community space and patio creates more social spaces

• The community room can create an acoustic separation from the main library for social events

• This is the least expensive option

Cons

• Lobby and toilets were relocated to support the community room

• Extra changes may be made to support the expansion, specifically the patio

• USPS will need to be moved

Option 3: A new building would be made on an existing civic center lot, adjacent to the current library;  the current library would be repurposed as part of the city center.

Estimated Cost: $13,842,645

Square Footage: 16,444 SF of new facility construction.

Pros

• This new building would engage in the transit hub and connect circulation on the public right of way into the civic center

• The community room can have controlled access and acoustic separation from the main library for events

• Offices, housing and other programs related to the civic center could be built on top of the library

• The current library remains

• Construction above the new building could be a funding source

Cons

• Funding will need to be sourced

• Most expensive option.

All options include new parking lot striping, updated landscaping, and ADA accommodations.

After the presentation, Bob Dugan, who is on the library task force,spoke. He asked why option 2 was in the presentation even though it was dismissed early on  by the library staff because of the lease agreement with the city and USPS. He was also concerned with a consultant report in the presentation that references a 2016 civic center study; he believes that this study was only done to try and make changes to the Civic Center Master Plan, lastly he requested that part of the La Mesa City General Plan be amended to better suit the community in relation to library needs. 

The City Council had to agree on one of the three options and give a recommendation. 

Mayor Mark Arapostathis favored option 2  because the USPS office has been moved in the past and it is not an impossible task to accomplish. Vice Mayor Coliin Parent said that he favored either options 1 or 2 because they seem to him like the options that are the most realistic, and if option 2 is chosen, then he proposed a time limit should be set for negotiations with the USPS office.  Mayor Arapostathis noted that it depends on if the USPS office cooperates. 

The Council unanimously voted to go forward with option 2.