The Next Chapter for Altadena Libraries
Thanks to the incredible support of local residents, organizations, and businesses through the passage of Measure Z, the Altadena Library District has embarked on an ambitious multi-year project to repair, modernize, and improve the Main Library and the Bob Lucas Memorial Library.
Click to view the Main Design Board with renderings and design highlights
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In compliance with Environmental Impact Review, the Altadena Library District has salvage items available for community members to acquire. The items and quantities shown on our webpage will be dispersed on a first-come, first-served basis.
To review items available, visit https://www.altadenalibrary.org/salvage
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The LA County Regional Planning Commission approved the conditional use permit for the Main Library during the April 22. The public comment period is open until May 6.
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LA County Regional Planning Commission has scheduled a public hearing to consider Project No.: PRJ2023-000474-(5) on April 22, 2026 at 9am.
Hearing Location: Hall of Records, 320 W. Temple Street, Room 150, Los Angeles, CA 90012. Virtual (Online) at bit.ly/ZOOM-RPC. By phone at (669) 444-9171 or (719) 359-4580 (ID: 858 6032 6429).
Document Availability and Project Information: The staff report, Final EIR, and related case materials will be posted on the County’s website about two weeks before the public hearing. The Final EIR will be available at: https://bit.ly/RPPL2023000666, and the Project staff reports and related materials will be available at: https://bit.ly/RPPL2023000666.
For more information about this project, or to submit written comments, email the case planner, Jolee Hui, at jhui@planning.lacounty.gov. Written comments and materials may also be mailed to: Attn. Jolee Hui, 320 W. Temple Street, Los Angeles, 13th Floor, CA 90012. You may also contact the planner by phone: (213) 893- 7011. Written Comments must be received by April 21, 2026, at noon and will be distributed to the Commission and published on the County’s website.
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The Main Library closed for renovation as of Feb. 1. The project should take approximately 14-18 months. The Main Library groundbreaking ceremony was held on Feb. 28.
The Friends of the Altadena Library held a sale Feb. 18-21.
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The Main Library will close for renovation on Saturday, January 31.
The library will ready for renovation during the month of February, holding a furniture, book, craft supplies, etc. sale from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., Wednesday, Feb. 18 through Saturday, Feb. 21.
The Main Library groundbreaking ceremony will be at 10 a.m., Saturday, Feb. 28.
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The Ad-Hoc Facilities Committee unanimously recommends to contract with Icon West, Inc. for the construction of the Main Library Renovation Project. The Board of Trustees approved the director to contract with this firm for the project.
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The Los Angeles County Department of Regional Planning has filed a Draft Environmental Impact Report for the Altadena Main Library Renovation. The public may review and provide written comments on the report.
PROJECT TITLE/NO. & PERMIT(S): Altadena Main Library Renovation Project, PRJ2023-000474-(5), Conditional Use Permit (“CUP”) No. RPPL2023000666, Oak Tree Permit No. RPPL2025003986, Environmental Assessment No. RPPL2024005464
PROJECT LOCATION: 600 E Mariposa Street, Altadena
(Assessor’s Parcel Numbers: 5840010900)PUBLIC REVIEW PERIOD: Thursday, Sept. 25, 2025 to Thursday, Nov. 20, 2025
The Draft EIR can be viewed online or downloaded at the following website: https://bit.ly/PRJ2023-000474
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Five hundred community members attend the Bob Lucas Memorial Library and Literacy Center opening.
The district is honored to host US Congresswoman Judy Chu, Gabrielino/Tongva Nation Tribal Councilwomen, Altadena Town Council members, community leaders, our Board of Trustees, the Friends of the Altadena Library, Altadena Library Foundation and representatives for Supervisor Kathryn Barger, Assemblymember John Harabedian and State Senator Sasha Renée Pérez. The district also honored Altadenans and members of the Bob Lucas family who have long supported the district.
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As construction on the Bob Lucas branch library nears completion, the district sets a reopening date: Saturday, Aug. 16, 2025.
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The Main Library reopens on Tuesday, March 4, 2025.
To welcome the community back, the library hosted a celebration featuring acclaimed actor and author LeVar Burton. More than 1,000 people attended the event.
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Construction on the Bob Lucas Memorial Library has resumed.
The district staff members are working to get the Main Library ready to reopen after the Eaton fire.
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As of 5pm, Thursday, Jan. 9, 2025, the Altadena Main Library and Bob Lucas branch are intact. Please share this information with your friends and family so that we can keep our community updated.
We are devastated by the damage this fire has done to our beloved Altadena, and our hearts go out to all affected by this disaster. Yet we are grateful to be part of such a resilient and close-knit community and are committed to supporting Altadena in every way possible as we grieve, come together, and rebuild. -
The renovation and expansion of the Bob Lucas Memorial Library is about 40% complete, and we have new images of the new literacy center and children’s room.
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The renovation and expansion of the Bob Lucas Memorial Library is underway, and we are excited to share some of the changes happening there, including the expansions for the new literacy center and children’s room.
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Want to know the latest on the Bob Lucas Library renovation & expansion as well as ongoing plans for the Main Library? Watch the architectural update from our Community Focus Group on June 17, 2024.
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The Bob Lucas Library closed on April 10, 2024, and we broke ground on April 18, 2024 with local elected officials, library leadership, community partners, visualizations of the renovations by Keni Art and a ceremonial ground breaking. See images here.
The expansion & renovation should take about a year. To help us prepare for this exciting project, the Friends of the Altadena Library hosted a special book sale at the Bob Lucas Library on Friday, April 12 & Saturday, April 13
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Beginning this April, the Bob Lucas Memorial Library (on Lincoln) will undergo a major renovation & expansion. Thanks to the support of our community, the $4.5 million investment will ensure that this wonderful library continues to educate, connect, and inspire the next generation of Altadena.
The last day the library will be open is April 10, 2024, and we will break ground on April 18, 2024.
The expansion & renovation should take about a year. To help us prepare for this exciting project, the Friends of the Altadena Library will host a special book sale at the Bob Lucas Library on Friday, April 12 & Saturday, April 13
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The library district engages local artist Keni Arts to paint 4 of the architectural renderings. His visualizations of the space will be used prior to and during construction to engage the community.
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On Tuesday, Jan. 23, 2024, the Los Angeles County held a public hearing to consider the Bob Lucas Library Expansion & Renovation, which included a presentation, overview of the project, and public comments. Based on the presentation & testimony, the Hearing Officer approved the project.
An overview of the updated plans and timelines for the Bob Lucas Library and the Main Library building projects were during Board Retreat on Jan. 12, 2024. The full design plans for the Main Library also were presented at that meeting.
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You can watch videos from the first Altadena Main Library Schematic Design & Community Feedback Town Halls (Jan. 28 & Feb. 1, 2023) below.
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Altadena Libraries will receive $7.5 million in infrastructure grants from the California State Library that will be used for renovations and upgrades.
Our Board of Trustees approved the Bob Lucas design dat the September Board meeting. We are now working with the County of Los Angeles Planning Department to acquire a Conditional Use Permit (CUP), which is required to obtain building permits.
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The renovations and additions for the Bob Lucas Memorial Branch have reached the next milestone in the design process. We are providing the Design Development documents (click here to view) for review this month, and we welcome feedback.
We plan to bring the plans to the library Board of Trustees in September for approval.
Once the Board has committed to the design, we will be able to submit the plans to the County of Los Angeles Planning Department to acquire a Conditional Use Permit (CUP), which is required to obtain building permits.
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Though we are working through some procedural challenges, we continue to move forward on our building projects. Here are efforts currently underway.
We continue to work on the design process for the Bob Lucas Branch. We are working with LA County Planning on obtaining a Conditional Use Permit (CUP) for this location.
The District is waiting to hear more on the California State Library grants we applied for this spring. Due to rising cost estimates, additional potential funds would substantially impact design options for the Main Library.
We have postponed the Main Library Town Hall for a bit longer as we wait for decisions from the state library on our grant applications.
Thank you for your participation and patience, and we look forward to bringing you more information as we work through this process.
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NIKKI WINSLOW
District DirectorDANIEL MADARIAGA
Facilities Manager -
RACHLIN PARTNERS
Capital Projects ManagementANDERSON BRULÉ ARCHITECTS (ABA)
Architectural Firm -
COMMUNITY FACILITIES DISTRICT (CFD) STANDING COMMITTEE
Oversees development of the bond issuance team and debt structure, as well as management of the bond proceedsAD-HOC FACILITIES COMMITTEE
Oversees strategic decision-making for building projectsAD-HOC FACILITIES COMMITTEE COMMUNITY FOCUS GROUP
Small group of community representatives helps District consistently incorporate feedback and input into the decision-making process and assists in identifying when broader-scale, more widespread community engagement is helpful
Our Project Goals for the Libraries
We are committed to providing all residents of Altadena with full access to library facilities, including cutting-edge technology, wide-ranging physical and digital collections, welcoming public spaces, and inclusive and innovative programs, services, and events.
We are making a generational investment in upgrading the visual appeal, safety, and usability of both the Main and Bob Lucas Memorial libraries.
We are working to provide ALL residents of Altadena with full access to everything our libraries have to offer.
We are re-imagining our libraries for the next generation and asking you to join us!
General Project Timeline
Main Library Priorities
Make the library easy to use and fully accessible for everyone
Make essential structural, seismic, and safety repairs while maintaining the unique and historic mid-century architecture
Make the most of indoor and outdoor areas, developing fun, flexible & future-proof spaces
Bob Lucas Memorial Library Priorities
Expand the library with an indoor-outdoor reading court and suite of rooms for literacy programs
Reconfigure the interior and exterior areas to maximize space
Uplift and invest in the visual appeal of the building to make this library the landmark it should be
Frequently Asked Questions
Financial Questions
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Yes, there are exemptions for low-income households available for anyone who qualifies. Property owners will be able to apply for this exemption between April 1-June 30, 2024. For more information, contact: ALD Director Nikki Winslow at (626) 798-0833, ext. 103.
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The proposed cost for owners of single-family residences is 10 cents per square foot for single family residences. The typical homeowner in the Library District will pay about $14 per month. Other property types will have different rates. The assessment will appear on local property tax bills and be due and paid along with other property taxes.
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Yes, both commercial and residential property owners are subject to the assessment. Commercial properties will pay a flat rate. Those under 10,000 square feet will pay one rate, and those over 10,000 square feet will pay another.
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The CFD issued $21.125 million in land-secured municipal bonds on February 17, 2022. Measure Z, which voters passed in November 2020, authorized for up to $24 million to be issued.
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The District’s accounting firm has created a separate fund to track all revenue and expenditures on the capital projects, in addition to the regular General Fund revenue and expenditures. These are published monthly in the Board of Trustees agenda packages, which can be found on the website at www.altadenalibrary.org/board-materials.
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Yes. The sale of the bonds will take place on February 17, 2022. Those interested in purchasing must set up an account with Hilltop Securities no later than February 16, 2022 to participate in the sale. Contact Rose Thompson with Hilltop Securities at 214-859-9466 to set up an account to participate in the bond sale on February 17, 2022. It only takes about 15 minutes to set up the account.
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The bond sale takes place on the morning of February 17, 2022.
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A CFD special tax is levied on taxable property within a district area that is used to fund authorized public facilities and/or services.
Special taxes for a CFD are typically levied annually and placed on the property tax bill issued by the County. The special taxes for CFDs created to finance authorized public facilities (infrastructure such as roads, sidewalks, police and fire stations, public libraries, etc.) are typically used to pay back principal and interest on bonds issued for that particular CFD. Special taxes for a CFD created to finance authorized public services are levied to pay for the service provided (such as lighting, landscaping, police protection, fire suppression, library services, etc.).
Community Impact Questions
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All funds must stay local and be completely dedicated to Altadena Libraries. They will be used to:
Ensure universal accessibility for all community members, regardless of abilities.
Expand the size and footprint of the Bob Lucas Memorial Library to expand programming and ensure we have adequate space and a supportive environment for the literacy center.
“Future-Proof” our libraries by maximizing flexibility and effective use of space.
Continue providing important programs and resources to the community.
Repair aging facilities.
Keep Altadena libraries clean, safe, and well maintained
Provide up-to-date print and online reading materials
Increase computer and internet access
Continue providing community events and activities for children, families, and seniors, and preserve safe places for children and teens, for homework and afterschool activities
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Yes. In June 2025, Measure A, which covers about one fourth of the District’s operating budget, expires. At that time, a portion of the funds raised by Measure Z will replace it to provide funding for important services, programs and resources.
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Taxpayer protections are required by law and included in the measure. All funds would stay local for Altadena libraries — they cannot be taken away by the State or used for other purposes. The measure requires oversight, annual reporting, and financial audits to ensure funds are spent properly.
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The Board of Trustees appointed a Standing Committee called the Community Facilities District (CFD) Committee to provide oversight of the bond issuance and proceeds. They serve as an advisory committee to the full Board of Trustees on any decision being made and voted on. This has included the hiring of the bond issuance team and decisions about the amount of bonds sold for these capital improvements.
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We anticipate having to change how we provide some services and are planning for that early. We don’t plan on eliminating any services during any closures. We have also purchased a mobile library unit to provide services throughout the community and are in the process of purchasing another one to expand this outreach effort.
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The plan is to close the Bob Lucas Library first to complete that project. While that is taking place, Main Library design and preparations will continue; the Main library will be open for the community until the Bob Lucas project is complete. When the Main Library is closed for construction, the operating hours at Bob Lucas will be greatly expanded to include weeknight and evening hours. We are also exploring an alternate site for the Main Library to operate out of during the renovation.
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We are currently working with the architectural firm Anderson Brulé Architects to create the plans needed for both buildings. Once that is complete, the next step will be for the Board of Trustees to approve a Notice Inviting Bids to select a construction firm. The Board is committed to incentivizing the use of local businesses and workers.
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It’s still too early in the design process to be sure what, if any, the environmental impacts may be. However, we will work closely with our design team and our project management team at Rachlin Partners throughout the entire process to ensure all environmental requirements are met, and that we avoid or mitigate any substantial environmental impacts. We also plan to go even further by engaging local community leaders to have their feedback on all of the environmental aspects of this project.
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We anticipate having to close both libraries at some point to ensure the safety of library patrons and staff and to ensure construction goes as quickly as possible. We are already working with community leaders, including the Chamber of Commerce, to identify temporary library space in the community. We will also have a robust plan for the use of our mobile library during any closures. Additionally, we are coordinating the construction of the two libraries so that at least one library remains open at any given time.
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As we are very early in the design and planning process, it is hard to say what new services will be part of the renovated libraries. It is our intention to create flexible and adaptive spaces to accommodate the ever-changing needs of our library users and community stakeholders.
General Questions
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So far no. In fact it may have actually helped so far since most of our meetings are still being held virtually, which allows for much more efficient scheduling.
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There were some government restrictions on construction early during the pandemic before we knew what safety measures to follow, but those expired and weren’t re-establishd during either of the last two surges. So we don’t anticipate this being an issue.
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You can find the latest details about our Next Chapter on the website, and you can sign up for our monthly eblast which will include timely updates.
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We are committed to supporting local businesses whenever possible and will endeavor to include local businesses whenever we are seeking quotes for services.
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Community Facilities Districts (CFDs) are special districts established by local governments in California as a means of obtaining additional public funding. These districts can be used to pay for ongoing services or authorized public facilities. CFDs may fund public improvements and services including infrastructure by levying a special tax that may be used as the security on which to issue land-secured municipal bonds.
For the critical facilities needs that the Altadena Library District has, a bond is one of the most common ways to address them.
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A CFD special tax is levied on taxable property within a district area that is used to fund authorized public facilities and/or services.
Special taxes for a CFD are typically levied annually and placed on the property tax bill issued by the County. The special taxes for CFDs created to finance authorized public facilities (infrastructure such as roads, sidewalks, police and fire stations, public libraries, etc.) are typically used to pay back principal and interest on bonds issued for that particular CFD. Special taxes for a CFD created to finance authorized public services are levied to pay for the service provided (such as lighting, landscaping, police protection, fire suppression, library services, etc.).
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Finding funding for local public facilities and services is difficult, particularly after the passage of Proposition 13 in 1978, when local governments in California were severely limited in their ability to finance such things as parks, infrastructure, police and fire services, and libraries. (Bob Lucas Branch Library was closed for 13 years before reopening in 1991 due to budget cuts).
Senator Henry Mello and Assemblyman Mike Roos proposed the Mello-Roos Community Facilities Act of 1982 (California Government Code §53311), which gave California local governments access to community funding with the requirement that two-thirds of the voters or landowners in the proposed district must approve the special tax.
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This measure was a local funding measure passed by voters on the November 3, 2020 ballot to establish a Community Facilities District (CFD) within the Library District that will generate stable local funding to continue to provide programs and resources to the community and repair and upgrade the Altadena Libraries. For more details, please refer to our Measure Z webpage.
Main Library Questions
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Top priorities are to improve accessibility for the entire community, dramatically improve the effective use of space, update the building’s infrastructure, and meet current seismic code requirements.
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The Board of Trustees is committed to preserving its historical nature and to working to get it placed on the national register of historical places. This commitment was a large part of the reason thet chose Anderson Brulé Architects, whose team has extensive experience working with historical buildings.
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The renovations will produce a fair amount of noise, but the contractor will be required to follow all local noise ordinances to mitigate this issue.
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The plan is to close the Bob Lucas Library first to complete that project. While that is taking place, Main Library design and preparations will continue; the Main library will be open for the community until the Bob Lucas project is complete. When the Main Library is closed for construction, the operating hours at Bob Lucas will be greatly expanded to include weeknight and evening hours. We are also exploring an alternate site for the Main Library to operate out of during the renovation.
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While it’s still early in the design process, we don’t anticipate any major additions to the existing library structure. Changes to retaining walls, stairs, and walkways are anticipated in order to make the library more accessible, and we are exploring potential changes to the use of some outdoor areas to accommodate programming and events.
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No. However, we highly encourage the immediate community of Christmas Tree Lane to participate in our upcoming community meetings to ensure their voices are heard on any changes they would like to see in the libraries.
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We are looking at creating additional head-in parking spaces along Mariposa at the Main Branch, but any such changes will be done in coordination with the relevant LA County agencies, Altadena Town Council, and community input.
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We currently expect construction at the Bob Lucas Memorial Branch to begin in the spring of 2023. Construction for the Main Library will not begin until the Bob Lucas Memorial Branch is once again operational, around late 2023.
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The Bob Lucas Memorial Branch is currently projected to be completed by late 2023. The Main Library will be under construction until at least early 2025.
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While it’s still early in the design process, we don’t anticipate any major additions to the existing library structure. Changes to retaining walls, stairs, and walkways are anticipated in order to make the library more accessible, and we are exploring potential changes to the use of some outdoor areas to accommodate programming and events.
Bob Lucas Library Questions
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The Bob Lucas Library needs a complete overhaul, but the focus will be on ensuring that there’s significantly more space, both interior and exterior, for the literacy center and other programming within a design that reflects its significance to the community.
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The renovations will produce a fair amount of noise, but the contractor will be required to follow all local noise ordinances to mitigate this issue.
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The plan is to close the Bob Lucas Library first to complete that project. While that is taking place, Main Library design and preparations will continue; the Main library will be open for the community until the Bob Lucas project is complete. When the Main Library is closed for construction, the operating hours at Bob Lucas will be greatly expanded to include weeknight and evening hours. We are also exploring an alternate site for the Main Library to operate out of during the renovation.
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We currently expect construction at the Bob Lucas Memorial Branch to begin in the spring of 2023. Construction for the Main Library will not begin until the Bob Lucas Memorial Branch is once again operational, around late 2023.
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The Bob Lucas Memorial Branch is currently projected to be completed by late 2023. The Main Library will be under construction until at least early 2025.
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We have to balance the need for additional space, various codes and regulations regarding building set-back, and required parking space. The plan already calls for eliminating some of the impermeable pavement and replacing it with an outdoor reading court and additional opportunities for landscaping.
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The current building structure of the Bob Lucas library doesn’t allow us to accomplish this and meet our goal of universal accessibility in a cost-effective manner.
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LA County regulations require a minimum number of spaces based on building square footage, in addition to specific ADA parking spaces. Under the designs currently being discussed, we would be required to have 12 parking spaces.