Before we commit to a new library on 7th Street maybe we should consider another location that can have major benefit for many elements of the Laurel area community: The property the police department will soon vacate at Avondale Street/Municipal Square. This site, owned by the City of Laurel, offers many advantages the current site/expansion/rebuild does not.
Building a new library on this site will achieve our first goal: a new, modern library to replace a sadly outdated and over-crowded facility. But it can help achieve a second important goal: revitalizing the economy of a major economic center: Laurel's Main Street.
Who will come to the new library? If current patronage is any indication: people. Lots of people. People who read, listen to music, view movies, use computers. Families and children. People interested in culture. People who shop, walk, dine and want to be entertained.
We talk a lot about the importance of making our communities green; of revitalizing areas, and about the importance of getting people out of their cars. The current library location is for all intents, a pedestrian and shopping dead zone. Rt. 198 is a major thoroughfare, very pedestrian unfriendly, and 7th/216 is an increasingly busy road. (ever try to cross during rush hour?) The Library's current location is pretty much a stop and go someplace else location. That could change.
Think of a Library on the police department site. Patrons could use a great new facility, easily accessible from Main Street, Rt 1, 198, 216 -- but one that, once they parked, was in a walkable area. It's an area filled with historic, interesting structres (take the LHS Walking Tour to see what I'm talking about.)
More importantly, people could go to the library -- and then WALK to a shop. Visit the Meat Market, go up to Finders Keepers for Antiques. Stop for lunch at the new place that will open because there are suddenly lots of customers nearby. Attend a community theater. I talked informally with Bob Mignon, head of the Laurel Board of Trade, and he thought it was a great idea. People at the meeting last week, including city officials, were I think, receptive, especially considering this was the first time most of them had considered it.
Worried about parking needs? Approaching parking for the area creatively could result in a parking structure that not only served library patrons, but also provided much needed parking for Main Street. Deck (multi-level) parking for a library may be an extravagance; decked parking that serves a library, Main Street merchants, a possible development that faces Rt 1 if Fred Frederick decided to develop his site differently, and even the MARC station overflow is economic good sense.
From the new library, which would abut the Patuxent River, and which could be reconfigured to become a Park gateway, people would finally have a reason to walk along Riverfront Park, a wonderful community resource that all agree is grossly under-utilized.
One of the major problems discussed on the meeting the other night was potential disruption caused by erection of a new library. Building on a site away from the current library allows that institution to continue operations without any disruption. More importantly, it preserves an historic park, and designated official Open Space (a major obstacle by all accounts). Emancipation Park, and the Grove have important historical connotations, not only for our city's African American Community but also as far back as the city's mill era. This approach preserves that history.
Extra bonus: once the new building was completed the old library building would be perfect for an additional community center for that part of town.
When the City of Laurel moved City Hall from Main Street it removed a major reason for people to come "downtown." Relocating the police department will remove another central service. Placing the new library in their place could go a long way to reversing this trend.
Even as Laurel expands geographically, it needs to keep its heart. That heart is its Main Street. Can it make a difference? Visit Frederick and see how important a role their library in the Older Part of town is.
We need a new library, and one inside the city limits is certainly the # 1 priority. - but wouldn't a library that not only grows minds but grows COMMUNITIES be an even better goal? Let's come together and find a way to bring the new library to Old Town Laurel
Posts
3 comments:
My original feelings were to keep the library at its present location and I do not see anything wrong with cutting into Emancipation Park since there is a huge, beautiful McCollugh Field with play equipment and more right there within a block. However, after reading Karens idea of the old police building on C street, it really seems like the perfect place. Long ago, my family discovered that the Savage Library was a much nicer and more organized with more to offer than our own library. Just like the mall and restaurants, it was better to head to Columbia. Not only out of our town but out of our county. With all the space that the police building has (and parking) it would be able to house the library and possibly other resources (express MVA, or even a police sub station.) It could be the place that people in Howard County come to. Great idea Karen!
Oringinally, I liked keeping the library where it is, but after reading the post I am not so sure. To me, Main St. is a big part of Laurel's charm and anything to enhance or build community activity around Main St. would be great. Not totally sold, but I am interested in the idea.
One other thing I wanted to add to my earlier comment. Moving the library to main street, would also accomodate those who do not want expand the current facility into Emancipation Park. I think the concern of the local citizens should bear some weight.
Post a Comment