The Parking Question

There's been a lot of speculation recently about the concept plans for the northwest corner of Lockport Street and Route 59. That corner lot is adjacent to the Route 59 parking lot, currently owned by the Village and contracted for purchase by the Library next year. Which brings us to the issue of parking.

Parking is a pivotal issue for any business in the downtown and particularly so for the Library.
The way the Village ordinances allow businesses to count parking in the downtown, all parking within 150' of the business' front door is counted, regardless of who owns it. This means that the spaces in the Route 59 parking lot could conceivably be counted by the proposed new office building on the corner, the Library, Plymouth Congregational Church, Baci, Tawny Tortoise - every business along Lockport Street. The point is, one parking space counted as parking for half a dozen different businesses is still a single parking space. The pressure on the downtown parking lots is increased as Library use continues to grow - averaging 10% more visits each year for the last five.

With the acquisition of the Route 59 parking lot, the Library will own a majority of the parking on the block. Being good neighbors is of utmost importance to the Library Board. The Library's parking lots will remain public for the foreseeable future, with the exception of designating some staff spaces. The Library will work with the Village and our neighbors to ensure that any changes to the parking lots balance the needs of the Library, the needs of our neighbors, and the commitment of the Village to provide public parking. That balance is not easy, or simple to achieve. But the Library Board's mantra is to be good stewards of the taxpayers' dollars and do the best we can with what we have. Finding that perfect solution may take some time, but I am confident that we can work together to get there.

Question of the Day: Can staff parking be moved further away so there are more spaces closer to the building for patrons?

This question is more to do with today's configuration than the expansion plan, but I wanted to address it here. Today, the Library only owns the "little lot" up to the hedge to the north of the library. The larger parking lot just to the north of it is owned by the Village of Plainfield. Eleven spaces, or about 1/3 of the Library-owned lot is designated for the 55 staff members of the Library. Because there is no loading dock or service entrance, the staff entrance on the north side of the building and the spaces near it, are the loading area for Library use.

In the expansion, a loading dock and service entrance would be added, removing this from the main parking area. Also, the staff entrance for the downtown Library will be on the Illlinois Street side of the building, while the main patron entrance would face Route 59 and the expanded Route 59 lot. The Library is contracted to purchase the Route 59 parking lot from the Village in 2010, which would allow for the creation of staff spaces in that lot.

Question of the Day: Why can't the Library use an existing building(s) for its expansion?

There are three main reasons why an existing building was not selected for the library's expansion at this time.

#1 Libraries cannot use just any building due to the live-load capacity of the structure. Book stacks are HEAVY. They require 150lbs per square foot live load capacity. Typical construction is 70-90lbs. Reinforcing a structure to accommodate that live load generally costs more than new construction. Grocery stores are one of the few types of construction that would be similar in live load capacity needed.

#2 The size of the buildings available is an issue. Many of the building suggested when this question is asked, the old Police Station and the former Applebee's restaurant for example, are not large enough to meet the community's need for a library location. The proposed branch is 30,000 sq ft - about 6 times the size of the former Applebee's building. If smaller buildings are used, multiple branches will be necessary to meet the community's need. The biggest expense in operating a library is staff. The more locations you have, the more staff you need and therefore higher operating costs. The two facility approach was selected to balance space needs and operating cost.

#3 The location of the existing building must meet the needs of the community. Putting a second library within a mile or two of the existing building when the Library District stretches from north of Boughton Road to south of Caton Farm Road, west to Arbeiter Road and east to Kings Road/Gaylord Road. Most of the buildings available are simply too close to the downtown library.

Question of the Day: Why build the "Taj Mahal"?

The proposed downtown library addition is not an extravagant building. Rather, it is the maximum size possible for the building's site while maintaining adequate parking on site. When researching a design concept, the architects gathered a "kit of parts" by analyzing the common elements among the buildings in the downtown. These included cornice work, recessed doorways with ornate trim, Ashler-pattern stone work, ornate brickwork, and palladian windows.

Each of these elements was included in the design of the downtown library. While the 1941 library building was the only Federalist-style building in the downtown, its character was also retained in the exterior concept selected.

The Site Feasibility Committee's review of the downtown site shows that the 70,000 square foot library proposed for the downtown in his plan cannot be expanded to meet the needs of the community in the future. By including an additional 30,000 sq ft branch library on the north side of the district, both today's need and the need for the next 12-15 years will be met.

Question of the Day: I'm confused. Which of the buildings pictured are you going to build?

We've heard from several people that they are confused about the architectural renderings of the proposed downtown library. They are all different views of the same building.

This is the site plan, showing how the parking will be expanded and the footprint of the new building. Look for the dotted line that shows the outline of the existing building:


This is the new "main" entrance, facing Route 59. It is the right side of the building when you are viewing the site plan.


This view is the north side, facing the Illinois Street parking lot. It is the top side of the building when you are viewing the site plan.


This is the southwest corner of the building, showing the original 1941 library. It is the lower left corner of the building when viewing the site plan.


This is the proposed Illinois Street entrance on the west side of the building. On the site plan, it is the recessed opening on the upper left corner of the building.


If you are still thoroughly confused, stop by the Library during one of our information table times! We'd be happy to "walk" you around the proposed downtown library.

Question of the Day: Cafe in the Downtown Library?

A resident called today to ask this question:

"Why is there a cafe included in the downtown library?"

According to the schematic design as it stands, there is a cafe seating area in the lobby of the expanded downtown library, to allow for comfortable seating where food and beverages can be enjoyed. However, due to space constraints, it is likely to be a vending operation, like the Peotone or Kankakee Libraries have, rather than a coffee shop or cafe. While it would be a nice amenity to offer coffee and snacks in the library, space is at a premium.

Besides, we have Gourmet Junction, Cathy's Sweet Creations, and Bella Bistro all within an easy walk from our downtown location. Plenty of coffee and snacks available nearby!

Expanding - one piece of property at a time

After a long negotiation, the Board of Trustees have finally come to terms with the owner of 15022 S. Route 59, former home of 59 Hair Design. The contract sets the price at $1,000 over the highest appraised value of the property. The Board of Trustees were determined to begin the process of expansion as they mean to go on - as good stewards of the taxpayers' funds, paying a fair price for the property. I believe that they achieved that aim with this contract.

With the addition of this piece of property, the Library will be able to continue planning for approximately 70,000 sq ft of library space in the downtown. Another 30,000 sq ft is slated for a second site. The amount of space that can be accommodated on the downtown site determines what is needed for a second site. Following last night's Special Board Meeting where the contract was signed, they are now prepared to contemplate the location of a second site.

With frugal management, the Board of Trustees have accumulated a Special Reserve Fund for capital projects. The Special Reserve Fund is the only fund in which the Library's accumulation of money is not capped by state law. By law, this fund may only be used for designated purposes - in our Library's case emergencies and capital projects. Developer impact fees, required by the Village of Plainfield through an intergovernmental agreement, are accumulated in the Special Reserve Fund, plus any surplus in the Operating Fund at the end of each fiscal year (usually very little).

The Board of Trustees planned for years to accumulate these funds in order to do planning and land acquisition prior to any referendum for building expansion. It is the Special Reserve Fund that allowed them to purchase the property at 15028 S. Route 59 (aka "the Gray house" or the grass lot behind the library's parking lot) without a mortgage in 2003 and will allow the same for the 15022 S. Route 59. In 2010, when the library is contracted to purchase the parking lot next door to 15028 S. Route 59 from the Village, the Library will again be able to purchase the property without a mortgage.

The Board of Trustees will continue their commitment to sound fiscal decisions for the Library on your behalf throughout the expansion process.