After many years of planning, meeting with the city, and waiting, a new branch library at a new site is in the works for Mission Hills-Hillcrest. In September 2003 the city purchased the lot at the southwest corner of Washington and Front streets, the site of the old IBEW building. The city, architects, library staff, and the Friends of the Mission Hills-Hillcrest Branch Library are in the process of designing a new 15,000 square foot building on the site, which is planned to include underground parking, community meeting rooms and gathering places, 21st century technology infrastructure, and room for lots of books and research materials.
On July 25, 2005, the City Council passed the new Mission Hills branch funding authorization. This assures the initial funding for engaging the architectural firm of Mosher, Drew, Watson & Ferguson, and beginning the design work.
Now, the fun really begins for the Friends of Missions Hills-Hillcrest Branch Library and the communities that the branch serves: Mission Hills, Hillcrest, Bankers Hill, Park West, Middletown, Old Town, India Street.
Group Meeting Results
On Saturday, November 12, 2005 at the community planning meeting, various groups were formed to discuss possibilities for the new library.
Read the results of the groups’ discussions below:
Artist Selected
Also at the November 12 library planning meeting with the architect, the community had the opportunity to meet Cork Marcheschi, the artist selected to create public art for the Mission Hills-Hillcrest Branch Library. Mr. Marcheschi has been a working artist for 23 years both in the public and private realm. His art has been displayed worldwide. Mr. Marcheschi works primarily with light as sculpture, and he is interested in exploring the various ways light, both natural and artificial, is reflected and projected. Mr. Marcheschi is currently working on public projects in the US and Hong Kong. He teaches at the Art Institute in San Francisco and at UC Berkeley. He has been the recipient of several prestigious awards and has had many exhibitions.
Architect Selected
Architects Mosher Drew Watson Ferguson is very pleased to be collaborating with the community as the Design Architect for the new Mission Hills-Hillcrest Library. The firm’s most recently completed city library is the La Jolla/Riford Library which opened in 2004.
The fall of 2006, Architects MDWF will be conducting community workshops to discuss the vision and design concepts for this library — your library.
Representing the firm will be: Larry Hoeksema, AIA, President of Architects MDWF and current President of AIA-SD; Don Leonard, AIA, Principal; and Felipe Ricketts, AIA, LEED, Senior Architect.
Here are some key dates, facts and figures about the new Mission Hills-Hillcrest Branch Library:
Size: 15,000 square feet (current library is 3,850 sq ft)
Location: Southwest corner of Washington and Front streets
Cost: approximately $10 million
Key dates (approximate):
Site purchased: 9/2003
In Spring 2004 Friends of Mission Hills-Hillcrest Branch Library drafted a Vision Statement for our new facility. Join us at future meetings as we refine and seek to implement our community’s aspirations.
First community workshops: Fall 2004
Selected architects Mosher, Drew, Watson & Ferguson
Summer 2005
Builder selected: tbd
New Library completion: late 2007/early 2008
Dec. 1, 2005, Thurs. 6:30-8:30 p.m. Florence School, 3914 First Avenue (at First and University) Review of community recommendations from Nov. 12. Presentation of three optional concepts by the architect. Discussion of appropriate design image for our library.
Dec. 15, 2005 Thurs. 6:30-8:30 p.m. Florence School Architect’s presentation and community review of final design concepts, including site plan, floor plans and building elevations.
Late Jan.- early Feb. Final community meeting Date, time and place TBA Architect’s presentation and community review of schematic design for the new library, including site design, floor plans and exterior elevations.
Ways you can be involved:
-
-
- Join the Friends of the Mission Hills-Hillcrest Branch Library. Support the branch library with your time, energy, and financial resources.
- Attend the design community workshops this fall.
- Visit Mission Hills Library and one or two of the new libraries in the city. Mission Valley, Point Loma, and La Jolla have recently opened new or enlarged libraries. Start thinking about what you would like to see in our new branch library and be ready to give your input!
-
An ambitious, $312.3 million plan that will provide the City of San Diego with a 21st Century Library System is currently underway. The 10-year plan calls for building 13 new libraries in the City and expanding 11 existing libraries.
The heart of the Library Improvement Program is a new, 495,942-square-foot Main Library in the East Village of downtown San Diego. This state-of-the-art facility will be located along the planned Park-to-Bay landscaped promenade that will link Balboa Park with San Diego Bay. The branch libraries will be connected to the Main Library by an online Library catalog and database to share resources, and provide technology and information services to all citizens.
The plan calls for new and expanded branch libraries to have a minimum of 15,000 square feet in order to provide meeting rooms, computer labs, separate areas for children and teens, as well as house other amenities of a modern branch library.
New Libraries to be Built:
Main Library
Balboa
College/Rolando
Logan Heights
Mission Hills-Hillcrest
Mission Valley Completed July 2002
North Park
North University Community
Otay Mesa/East
Paradise Hills
Point Loma/Hervey Completed September 2003
San Ysidro
Serra Mesa/Kearny Mesa
Skyline Hills
Library Branches to be Expanded:
Carmel Mountain Ranch
Kensington/Normal Heights
La Jolla/Riford Completed March 2004
Ocean Beach
Otay Mesa/Nestor
Pacific Beach/Taylor
Rancho Bernardo
San Carlos
Scripps Miramar Ranch
South University Community
Tierrasanta
Budget
To see the ‘City of San Diego Budget Proposal for the Fiscal Year 2005’ concerning plans for the new Mission Hills-Hillcrest Branch Library, click here.