City leaders who have seen plans for a new library said they are concerned about parking, open space and other issues.
Nearly 50 people, including aldermen, library trustees and members of various city committees attended a Monday night workshop to see preliminary plans for the library block. Prospect, Touhy and Summit Avenues border the triangular downtown site, where the current library is located.
The plans call for a three-story, 72,000- to 76,000-square-foot building with underground parking for 180 cars, surface parking for 20 to 30 cars and street parking for 50 cars. One set of plans was for a library alone, and another for a library with 42,000 square feet of retail space divided between two buildings.
Some people said they were concerned that parking would be inadequate. The existing library, which is less than half the proposed size, has parking for 200 vehicles. Others stressed the community’s desire for open and green space on the site.
A city official said an objection has been filed to the wording of an advisory referendum question on the library that is to be on the November ballot.
Dee J. McKenna, who filed the objection Friday, said the question is “unfair and biased” because it requires a single response to two questions: whether the voter supports the library and whether $20 million should be spent on it. A hearing will be held at 2 p.m. Tuesday in City Council chambers.
