The Multnomah County Library Capital Bond, approved by voters in November 2020, includes numerous projects to transform the County library system through the expansion, renovation and construction of library sites and facilities across the community. Capital building project leaders joined the Board of County Commissioners on Tuesday, Nov. 29, to share updates on the project’s budget, continuation of community engagement, and progress being made on construction.
Project Director Mike Day shared that there were no overall changes in the project sequencing timeline. Day said, however, that the project has had to make adjustments to the overall program budget — from $392.6 million to $416.4 million — and make shifts in funds.
As mentioned in previous bond updates to the Board, funds in the Bond Premium Reserve are set aside for unexpected and unforeseen conditions, unusually high inflation rates, project budget gaps, unanticipated market conditions and more.
“Updates to the East County library, along with Albina and Holgate libraries,” are where the adjustment has been made to the overall project, said Day.
Day also stated that diversity, equity and inclusion continues to be “at the core and fabric of the bond program.”
Efforts to perform outreach and solicit input have helped the libraries to lead with equity and center the voices of community members. Materials about the different projects have been translated into languages spoken commonly by community members in the libraries’ surrounding neighborhoods, and have been translated with awareness and knowledge of cultural differences to accommodate those differences.
Kate Vance, a deputy program director with the Department of County Assets, shared that construction has started on the Operations Center in East Portland and is making steady progress. The Operations Center will be the hub of library services, serving as the location where new books and materials will enter the system, items placed on hold will be sorted and transferred and where specialized materials and services will be centered. Underground utilities are currently being installed while crews are also preparing for the addition of the concrete slab for the second story. The foundation will be completed by January 2023, and the Operations Center is targeted to open in November 2023.
As libraries begin to close to the public for construction, “we’re continuing to focus on the closure communications,”said Library Deputy Program Director Katie O’Dell. To start on its upgrades, Holgate Library is scheduled to close on Dec. 5, 2022, and Midland Library will follow on Dec. 23, 2022; both will begin construction in early 2023. Holgate remains on schedule to open in spring of 2024 and Midland in summer of 2024.
O’Dell also explained that the community is being engaged in the projects through newsletters, social media, flyers and more. In October, Holgate Library project teams settled on a green exterior through a public voting process.
Other libraries, such as Albina and North Portland, are still determining when their closures will begin, but have set dates for the start of construction. Construction at Albina Library and North Portland Library will begin in spring of 2023, with dates to be determined based on permitting and historic review processes. Both are set to open in mid-to-late 2024.
“You have not seen these images before,” Vance told the Board as the proposed design of the Black Cultural Center was projected on the screen. The center, set to be a new 1,500 sq. ft. addition to North Portland Library, will become a space where people can gather, connect and celebrate their Blackness.
East County Library, a new, large-scale, engaging library that will truly be a destination and serve approximately 40% of Multnomah County residents who live east of I-205. Teams are working through the site purchasing process and hope the process to be finalized in early 2023. Additionally, the project has transferred an additional $20.55 million from the Bond Premium Reserve for some of the features, including the underground parking structure, outdoor plaza and others.
The improvements and updates being made to Capitol Hill, Central and Gregory Heights libraries are also progressing.
“Totally exciting,” said Commissioner Susheela Jayapal. “These are always so uplifting, energizing and hopeful.”
“For as much as everyone uses our libraries,” said Commissioner Jessica Vega Pederson, “it’s so needed for Multnomah County.
“I’ve been driving back and forth seeing the Operations Center,” said Commissioner Lori Stegmann, “I can’t help but think about the impact.”
“The change it will make in our community will be felt equally,” said Chair Deborah Kafoury. “It’s spread around consciously, and everyone will at a similar time feel the joy of having a newly constructed or newly refreshed building.”
Learn more and find updates about the bond projects through Multnomah County Library’s Capital Bond webpage.