Expert review of DCPL's proposed plans

Mount Pleasant Library -- The Renovation and Expansion Plans

DC Public Library wants to renovate and expand the Mount Pleasant Library. This sounds like a good thing, right? Upon examination of the proposed plans, many Ward One residents have issued serious concerns. The two biggest are with the proposed accessibility ramp and the proposed rear expansion. More recently, there have been red-flags raised about the renovation and what it will do to the historic building (remove the historic sunroom & gut the interior).

A community petition was started and is on it's way to over seven hundred signatures. There are many community groups standing in opposition to the plans. Three of four Ward One ANC's are skeptical of the plans and want a meaningful discussion about them. But nothing has swayed DCPL leadership so far and they want to move forward.

According to expert review, DCPL is squandering an opportunity to build a satellite library in the Ward. In addition, they are not negotiating in good-faith with residents about the controversial aspects of the plans and exposing the City to lawsuits if they construct what they are proposing.

ADA specialists and consultants have looked at the plans. Historic preservationists have looked at the plans. Fire safety experts have looked at the plans. They all agree that these plans need to change.

Please review the links below to get a sense of what's at stake with this project.

DCPL's Plans: DCPL's construction website. DCPL's "Bid" documents. More images of DCPL's proposed plans. Scheme "G" was Councilmember Graham's compromise plan developed by a community working group he chose in May 2009. This compromise plan was ruled off the table by DCPL without meaningful public discussion.

Community Concerns: Petition showing some of the major concerns with the renovation and expansion project. List of groups and letters they signed showing skepticism and opposition to the proposed plans. Historic Mount Pleasant letter to Councilmember Thomas who is Chair of the Libraries Committee Advisory Neighborhood Commission 1D, in Mount Pleasant, compiled a list of resolutions with regard to the library project

Expert Review: The Nichols Report (full report): Advisory Neighborhood Commission 1C contracted with an independent expert to review the plans. See the basic findings and conclusions here. The proposed ramp and expansion are discovered not to be code compliant. Nichols Design Associates provides some sketches of alternative plans here. ADA specialist James Diluigi's analysis of the plans. Anonymous AIA architect rendering of what an accessible front entrance may look like. Birds Eye | Street View Curator and librarian, Patrick Sheary takes a look at the historical presevation aspects of the plans, especially the interior. He also develops visual representations of what saving the historic sunroom could mean for the plans -- exploring a terrace leve-onlyl expansion with green roof to allow access from the sunroom to an outdoor reading area.

District Dynamos Mount Pleasant Webpage

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