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Auburn: Monthly Update Archives
December 2011
Construction continues on the 5,000 square foot library expansion project. Temporary library services are available at the building across the parking lot from the library.
November 2011
Construction continues on the Auburn Library expansion project. Temporary library services are available at the building across the parking lot from the library.
October 2011
Construction continues on the Auburn Library expansion project. Recent site work includes continuing to pour the foundation wall and electrical work. Temporary library services are available at the building across the parking lot from the library.
September 2011
Construction continues on the 5,000 square foot library expansion project. Recent site work includes pouring foundation footings and electrical work. Temporary library services are available at the beige building across the parking lot from the library.
August 2011
Construction is underway on the 5,000 square foot library expansion project. Temporary library services are available at the beige building across the parking lot from the library.
July 2011
The library expansion project is now underway, after the library closed at the end of May in preparation for construction work to start. Temporary library services are available at the beige building across the parking lot from the library.
June 2011
Auburn Library closed at the end of May in preparation for the start of expansion and renovation work. In the weeks leading up to the start of the project, KCLS announced the general contractor that was selected for the project: M.J. Takisaki. The City agreed to allow KCLS to defer the undergrounding of utilities along the property fronting the Library until utilities along the entire street are undergrounded, which is part of the City's long-term capital improvement plan.
May 2011
KCLS continues to finalize details for the library expansion project. During the final stages of reviewing the permit, the city added a requirement for underground electrical utilities along the parking lot frontage on Auburn Way South. KCLS is exploring the financial impacts of this and may appeal the requirement. In the meantime, KCLS continues to review bids for the project and the finalist will soon be announced.
April 2011
Construction bids for the library expansion project were received and are within the allocated project budget. KCLS is now reviewing the bids and the finalist will soon be announced. Construction is anticipated to start in the summer of 2011. Once construction starts, temporary library services will be provided at the former Herr Lumber store.
March 2011
KCLS has issued bid packages for the library expansion project and construction of an expanded parking lot on property west of the library. Bids are due in early April. Once construction starts, temporary library services will be provided at the former Herr Lumber store location.
February 2011
KCLS will purchase the former United Rentals property just west of the library to expand parking at the site by at least 30 stalls, as required by the city. As demolition expenses and costs to improve the existing parking areas have put the project over budget, the scope of the project will be modified. Items slated for reduction or removal may include landscape and exterior enhancements, window screens, interior finishes and other related materials. Once construction starts, temporary library services will be provided at the former Herr Lumber Retail store location.
January 2011
As part of the planning phase for the library expansion project, the due diligence process continues for property west of the library, which may be acquired for additional parking. Terra Associates conducted an environmental analysis and reported that the property does not require extraordinary hazardous materials cleanup. The final step in the process is to negotiate the extent of the property redevelopment with the City. Demolition expenses and costs to improve the existing parking areas have put the project over budget. KCLS plans to review the costs with the city’s Land Use and Planning Department and discuss how to keep the project within budget. Once construction starts, temporary library services will be provided at the former Herr Lumber Retail store.
December 2010
Progress continues to be made on acquiring property west of the library to expand the parking capacity. KCLS officials recently signed a purchase and sale agreement for property previously leased by United Rentals and due diligence is now underway on the site to determine if the property is environmentally sound. The architect team is meanwhile working on parking lot designs. Once construction starts, temporary library services will be provided at the former Herr Lumber Retail store, which is next door to Big Daddy's Drive-In. Plans for the temporary site have been submitted for permit review and the project is anticipated to go out to bid as soon as the permit is issued.
November 2010
A site has been secured for temporary library services once construction begins on the expanded library. Temporary services will be housed at the former Herr Lumber Retail store, next door to Big Daddy's Drive-In. Project consultants have submitted temporary use permit applications and are working to complete the interior space plans. Progress also has been made on acquiring additional property west of the library to expand the parking capacity at the site. KCLS officials signed a Purchase & Sale Agreement for property previously leased by United Rentals and due diligence is underway to determine if the property is environmentally sound.
October 2010
Construction documents for the library expansion project continue to be finalized. KCLS staff are working to acquire additional property to the west of the Library to expand parking capacity at the site, which is required by the City of Auburn. A lease has been secured for a temporary library facility during construction.
September 2010
Construction documents for the library expansion project are being finalized and permit review and SEPA documents were delivered to the city in August. Work continues to progress on acquiring additional property to the west of the library to expand the existing parking capacity. KCLS is also working to secure a temporary library facility for use during construction.
August 2010
The design review stage is nearing completion for the library expansion project. Documentation for the permit and SEPA review was delivered to the City at the end of August and the bid package should be issued by the end of October. KCLS is investigating alternative sites for temporary Library access during construction and is also looking to acquire property to expand the current parking capacity.
July 2010
Design development work continues for the Auburn Library expansion project. The consultant team is preparing permit applications and KCLS staff is looking into acquiring property to expand the parking capacity.
June 2010
Design development continues for the Auburn Library expansion project. The consultant team is preparing permit applications and KCLS staff is exploring acquiring property next door to the library to expand the parking capacity. Construction is anticipated to start in early 2011.
May 2010
Design development for the Auburn Library expansion project progresses. The City approved a ground lease on Les Gove Park for the area that the library and existing parking stalls occupy, which was necessary in order to use bond funds for the project. KCLS is looking at acquiring property next door to expand the parking capacity.
April 2010
Design development for the Auburn Library expansion project continues to progress. The City of Auburn approved a ground lease on Les Gove Park for the area that the library and existing parking stalls occupy. This was necessary in order to use bond funds for the expansion and remodel work. KCLS continues to explore acquiring additional property to expand the parking capacity.
March 2010
Design development for the 5,000 square foot Auburn Library expansion and renovation project continues to progress.
February 2010
Design development for the expanded and remodeled library continues. At the public meeting in January, the Mayor and City Council weighed in on KCLS adding parking to support Library and Park activities. The City requested that KCLS add 20 spaces as well as replace 10 spaces that will be lost during construction. While parking capacity already exceeds code requirements and the site has limited space, the City is the landlord of the property. Property adjacent to the Library on Auburn Way has become available and KCLS staff will meet with the City to investigate the possibility of jointly acquiring the property to satisfy the parking requirements.
January 2010
The schematic design phase is nearing completion, which entails determining the preliminary plans and specifications for the renovated and expanded Auburn Library. A public meeting was held on January 14 at the library, where architects presented the preliminary floor plan, site plan and interior and exterior views.
December 2009
Plans continue to be developed for the expanded and remodeled Library. To gather public input on the project, a public meeting is set for Thursday, January 14, 6:30pm at the Library.
November 2009
Work continues on developing plans for the expanded and remodeled Auburn Library. When completed, the Library will total nearly 20,000 square feet in size. A public meeting to get input on the project is set for Thursday, January 14, 6:30pm, at the Library.
October 2009
The consultant team is working to complete the conceptual and space plans for the Auburn Library expansion and renovation project. The public meeting held in September and follow-up workshops with KCLS staff were useful in refining the project plans.
September 2009
Schacht/Aslani Architects have started design work for the Auburn Library expansion and renovation project. The tentative plan is to add up to 5,000 square feet to the library building. A public meeting was held on September 17 and discussion focused on which two schemes for the expansion project would be best. There also was considerable discussion regarding the Library and City of Auburn partnering on the acquisition of additional property along Auburn Way South in order to increase visibility for the Library and Les Gove Park. A follow-up meeting will be set before the end of the year to further discuss the project. Construction is anticipated to start in 2010.
August 2009
Schacht/Aslani Architects started design work on the Auburn Library expansion and renovation project in mid-August. A public meeting is scheduled for September 17, 2009, at the Auburn Library with KCLS staff and the consultant team.
July 2009
KCLS selected Schacht/Aslani Architects to provide architectural services for the proposed 5,000-square-foot expansion and renovation of the Auburn Library. The current schedule calls for the agreement to be finalized and initial information gathering completed by August 2009.
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