11/25/2009
Kevin Smith, Public Building Commission, (312) 744-9277
The Chicago City Council today approved a site designation ordinance that will allow the Public Building Commission of Chicago to acquire property at 1210 W. Elmdale Ave. and 6014-16 N. Broadway for a new branch library that will serve the Edgewater community.
“Libraries are one of the most important anchors in revitalizing a community because they symbolize education, reading and are a safe haven for positive, constructive activities,” said Mayor Daley. “We build libraries not only as a keeper of our history, but because offering Chicagoans free access to information of all types – improves the quality of life for our residents.”
Preliminary plans call for the new Edgewater Branch Library to be a two-story, 16,250 square-foot structure. The project will be designed to achieve “Silver” level certification under the U.S. Green Building Council’s Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) standards.
The City of Chicago has built or fully renovated 53 Chicago Public Library branches in the past twenty years.
