The Ward Eight Library Alliance (WELA~DC)

~ Seeking excellence in community-driven oversight of our library system... let the People's voices count!

Washington Highlands Neighborhood Library
115 Atlantic Street, SW
DC Library Webpage for Washington Highlands

FACTS

• The Washington Highlands Library is the ONLY full-service library currently serving ALL of Ward Eight.
  
  
• DCPL plans to spend more than ten million dollars to tear down and then rebuild a Washington Highlands Library. There are no other monies in the pipeline to expand Ward Eight Library services in the near-term future -- this pot of money is it!
  
  
• DCPL has never completed a "Needs analysis" to determine other possible locations for expanding library services to better serve more Ward Eight neighborhoods.
  

DCPL has chosen a London-based architect to design the new Ward Eight library, but David Adjaye's services come at a price and DCPL is willing to go beyond, spending close to 1.5 million dollars on drawings for a new library. That's about 50,000 books or more than thirty full-time employees for a year.

DCPL is currently choosing to spend twice the Federal standard for architect's fees on City-wide library projects.

Given all this money being put towards design drawings, one would figure DCPL should make sure to get as much public input at the beginning of the design process as possible so that the architect begins his/her drawings with more purpose, meaning, and civic context. This includes hosting a design charette.

None of this has happened... and the community consultation has continued to remain poor with limited engagement and outreach to greater Ward Eight residents.

BEFORE THIS GOES ANY FURTHER
SHOULDN'T YOU HAVE A SAY IN THE MATTER?!?

For more information, including detailed design images, click here

Ward Eight Library Alliance (WELA~DC)

The Ward Eight Library Alliance (WELA~DC) promotes the public interest in W8 library services and seeks adequate community oversight of the proposed transformation of the Washington Highlands Branch Public Library. WELA~DC will research and disseminate information, as well as convene meetings to foster community consultation, discuss findings, identify concerns, and take action as participants so direct.

Subscribe to the Ward Eight Library Alliance listserve...

Low Email Traffic ~ High Info Content

• A Rebirth in Washington Highlands

  Encompassing about 300 acres at the southern tip of Southeast, Washington Highlands' streets are a checkerboard of colorful low-rise apartment complexes and littered empty lots, modest red-brick houses with tidy flower beds and squat public housing, elegant townhouses and boarded vacant houses.

• Washington Highlands Neighborhood Library History

  Unabridged history of the Washington Highland Library per the DCPL website.

• Washington Highlands Target Area Investment Plan

  The District of Columbia Office of Planning in partnership with the NIF Program’s implementing agency, the Office of the Deputy Mayor for Planning and Economic Development, worked with community stakeholders to develop an investment plan for the Washington Highlands target area.

• An Architect For the Books

  The D.C. Public Libraries have hired one of London's busiest and most prominent young architects, Mr. David Adjaye, to rebuild Washington Highlands and Francis Gregory neighborhood libraries.

• Report: Second Design Meeting in Washington Highlands

  Ward Eight residents see design images for the first time.

• Report: Commission of Fine Arts Meeting

  On May 21, 2009, the CFA approved Washington Highlands Library concept plans.

• Letter to CFA from WEPSD

  Ward Eight for Practical & Sensible Design stands opposed to the proposed design for a new Washington Highlands Library for several key reasons.

• Timeline: Washington Highlands Library Project

  Washington Highlands Library project timeline depicting a design process which has been almost completely pro-forma... with just the facade of community input.

• Reasons to Renovate the Washington Highlands Library

  Six big reasons why DCPL should renovate the current Washington Highlands Library building.

• Washington Highlands Library Project Survey

  Please take a few moments to send your feedback about the proposed library designs.

• What about a design charette?

  A look at what design charettes are and how they could help DCPL with their library projects.

• Community Rejects New Ward 8 Library Design

  DC Public Library officials faced near unanimous opposition last night from Ward 8 community leaders and residents who objected to the design for a new library to replace the existing Washington Highlands branch.

• Public Libraries around Nation Facing Asbestos Remediation

  It is as costly and time-consuming to demolish a building with asbestos and remove the debris to an approved landfill as it is to perform asbestos remediation and return the structure to use.

• BZA Delays Decision On Washington Highlands Library

  Members of the Ward Eight community had the ear of the Board of Zoning Adjustment for five hours yesterday concerning a controversial design for a replacement branch library at Washington Highlands.

• Neighbors speak out against SW library design

  Leaders of a far Southwest D.C. community have asked a city planning board to reject a proposed branch library design they say is bizarre and utterly out of touch with their neighborhood.

• Report: Second Architectural Design Meeting; Third Community Meeting in Ward Eight

  A very important meeting between DCPL and Ward Eight is held on June 3o, 2009 -- the community won't hear anything from DCPL for nearly two months.

• Groups Take on High Ward 8 Unemployment Rate

  The unemployment rate in Ward 8 far surpasses the rest of D.C., but a few groups are trying to change that.

• Videos: Sep 09 ANC 8D Meeting

  Special ANC 8D meeting regarding Washington Highlands Library.

• Barry, ANCs Decry Washington Highlands' Design, Process

  ANC 8D convened a special meeting on Sep. 24, inviting other Ward 8 ANCs, to discuss the design with architects, DCPL staff and Barry. Commissioners and community members from across the ward participated.

• D.C. Opens New East-of-the-River Library

  D.C. opened the doors Monday to the new Parklands-Turner Library in Southeast, a facility stocked with 25,000 books, DVDs and CDs. But it comes as the library system cuts hours at other libraries, provoking questions about priorities.

• Washington Highlands Proposal Modified

  Advisory Neighborhood Commission 8D Chair Theresa Jones and neighboring commissioners argue, however, that the library has consistently pursued its own agenda rather than engaging with the community directly enough for Adjaye and team to “interpret their sensitivities.”

• Rally Nov. 28 -- Don't Tear Down the Washington Highlands Library

  Save the Ward Eight's only full-service public library! Be there.

• Videos: 2010 Library Performance Oversight Hearing

  2010 Performance Oversight Hearing to keep some accountability of DC's public library system.

• District Dynamos hand out face masks and document neighbors experience in Washington Highlands

  The trail of broken promises continues, now endangering those around the library, as the old Washington Highlands is being broken up.

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