Expansion of South Everett Library Sees Movement

The expansion of the South Everett Library branch has been talked about for years but always put off by other budget items. At Wednesday night’s Everett City City Council meeting Mayor Ray Stephanson announced that he now wants to wait no more and move forward. Here’s the explanation put out by the city on Thursday…

Mayor Ray Stephanson this week announced that he will ask the City Council to approve funding to expand the Evergreen branch of the Everett library, located in south Everett.

“The south Everett branch opened 27 years ago, when we had a population of less than 70,000,” said Stephanson. “Now we have 85,000 people living south of 41st Street alone, and we are long overdue for a larger space to serve our community, especially the many families that visit the Evergreen branch on a daily basis.”

The City Council on July 20 will hear the first reading of an ordinance that would allocate $600,000 for design of the expanded space. Once the design work is completed, the project will be put out for bid in early 2017 and construction could begin by spring 2017.

“The Everett library team does incredible work in our community, and has made the most of a too-small space at the Evergreen location,” said Council President Scott Murphy. “I am pleased to support the expansion of this important asset and to provide a larger, improved space for our residents to gather and learn.”

The project would add 5,000 square feet to the south branch, including new study and quiet rooms, a large meeting space, additional public restrooms and computers and a larger children’s area. The project will also add 36 additional parking spaces by demolishing a City-owned duplex on the site and relocating information technology services to the expanded facility.

“Our community continues to grow, and we know there is an increased need for public spaces where people can do homework, meet with neighbors, or search for jobs,” said Council Vice President Judy Tuohy, who serves as Council liaison to the library board. “A larger branch will allow our dedicated library team to better serve our current members and visitors, and to expand their reach to even more residents.”

The Evergreen branch currently has nearly 8,600 square feet of space, compared to 54,000 square feet at the main branch. In 2015, 9,745 children attended programs at the Evergreen branch, compared to 7,446 at the main library. “This is very exciting news,” said Eileen Simmons, library director. “Expanding the Evergreen branch will enable us to provide better service to the branch’s many patrons. The Library Board of Trustees and staff are grateful that the City is willing and able to make this investment in our community.”

In 2013 the City hired Dykeman to complete a feasibility study for the expansion project. The study estimated the total project costs at nearly $5 million, though that number could change given increased construction costs in recent years. The design and construction costs will come from the City’s Capital Improvement (CIP) 4 fund.