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Greenbridge: Monthly Update Archives
November 2008
A large crowd of more than 350 people attended the opening of the
Greenbridge Library on November 5. King County Executive Ron Sims and Mona
Lake Jones, Poet Laureate of King County, were eloquent and inspiring speakers.
Since the Library is located in the YWCA facility, which also opened, it was
appropriate for Sue Sherbrooke and the YWCA to be a part of the opening celebration.
Steve Norman, Director of the King County Housing Authority, also spoke and
said it was fun to remember that almost eight years ago he came to the KCLS
Board and asked KCLS to participate in the Greenbridge project. The Library,
community center and new housing are exciting developments in the area.
October 2008
Construction of the new building is complete. Furniture and other
furnishings are now being moved in and the library is scheduled to open on
November 5, 11am with a ribbon cutting ceremony and open house.
September 2008
Shelving, furniture deliveries, lighting, signage and fixtures have
started to be installed and the opening celebration is set for Wednesday, November
5, 11am.
August 2008
Electrical work, painting and carpeting is nearing completion. Shelving
is on order and is anticipated to be installed in late September, with furniture
arriving in early October. KCLS staff will be on-site to help prepare the new
library to open November 5, 10am.
July 2008
Construction of the new Greenbridge Library Connection continues, with furniture
recently being ordered. The new library is anticipated to open in November 2008.
June 2008
The final design, color palette and plans for signage, furniture and equipment
were approved by KCLS staff. The selections will be presented to the YWCA Greenbridge
design committee. The site is currently under construction with an anticipated
opening in early November.
May 2008
Construction continues to be on schedule and the library is anticipated to open to the community in November 2008.
April 2008
The building is under construction and is anticipated to open in November
2008.
March 2008
Construction continues on the building where KCLS will lease space for the new
2,500 square foot Greenbridge Library Connection. It is anticipated that the
new facility will be completed and ready to open in November 2008.
February 2008
Planning for the Greenbridge Library Connection, which will be located in leased
space, continues. The space plan was reviewed by a committee that recommended
focusing on children from birth through early elementary school.
January 2008
Planning for the library continues with a recommendation that it be a facility
that focuses primarily on library services to young children.
December 2007
A small construction kick-off celebration was held at the Wiley Community Center, located near the construction site, on November 28. Those in attendance included Stephen Norman (King County Housing Authority CEO), Sue Sherbrooke (YWCA CEO), Maryann Crissey (YWCA Board Chairman), Tim Ceis (Seattle Deputy Mayor) and Bill Ptacek, KCLS Director. Construction is now underway and the building is anticipated to open in December 2008.
November 2007
A small construction “kick-off” event was held on the afternoon of November 28 at the Wiley Community Center, located near the construction site. A larger community celebration is anticipated to take place upon project completion. Those who attended the kick-off were partnership leaders, such as YWCA officials, KCLS staff and the King County Housing Authority as well as architects and contractors. The YWCA recently secured funding through a “New Market Tax Credit, which will offset the loss of WSU’s involvement in the project and will provide funding for low-income developments.
October 2007
Due to WSU dropping out of the partnership with KCLS and the YWCA, financing of the YWCA-led Community Center can’t go forward until all current and future parties agree to a lease that will pay off the construction loan. Since the area is likely to be annexed by Seattle, KCLS staff has been working with the city of Seattle to determine the lease. The City has been informed that the space for the library (about 2,300 square feet) needs to be considered along with some shared space, which totals almost 4,000 square feet. City officials appear to be ready to sign off on the agreement. However, since the area is still in unincorporated King County, the building permit process is taking longer than anticipated.
September 2007
The permit review process by King County’s Department of Development and Environmental Services has begun. Construction is anticipated to start in late 2008. WSU has dropped out of the partnership with KCLS and the YWCA. The YWCA is now seeking funding through a “New Market Tax Credit” to offset the loss of the University’s involvement.
August 2007
This project is in for permit and construction is scheduled to start this year.
KCLS will have 2,250-square-feet as part of a joint project with YWCA and a Washington
State University (WSU) extension.
July 2007
The project is in for permit and is scheduled to start construction in summer
2007. This is a joint project with YWCA and WSU extension. KCLS will occupy 2,250
square feet in the building.
June 2007
This project is in for permit and is scheduled to start construction
in summer 2007. This is a joint project with YWCA and a WSU extension. KCLS
will have 2,250 square feet in the building. FMS staff is working with the
architect and general contractor on the lighting specifications that should
be re-submitted for approval later this month.
May 2007
Walsh Construction Company has been selected by the YWCA as the general contractor for this project. They will build the shell and the space that KCLS will occupy will then turn the interior over to us for tenant improvements. The YWCA is the lead agency in this project. Construction is scheduled to start this building season.
April 2007
Walsh Construction Company has been selected by the YWCA as the
general contractor for this project. They will build the shell and space that
KCLS will occupy and will then turn the interior over for KCLS’ tenant
improvements. The YWCA is the lead agency in this project.
February 2007
Along with several partners of the project, KCLS staff met with the Head of Outreach for Washington State University to explore this community, which is well on its way to redevelopment. The YWCA is the lead on the community center which will house the library. KCLS continues to work with the YWCA and the City of Seattle to fashion an appropriate lease that will allow them to move forward with construction. At the same time, this arrangement must facilitate our ability to transfer the lease to the City of Seattle in the event the area is annexed. Contractor selection is scheduled for March 15, in conjunction with the YWCA and WSU Extension. Construction is anticipated to take place in summer 2007 (with completion in spring of 2008).
January 2007
A conceptual space plan for the King County pre-application meeting has been submitted.
December 2006
FMS staff met with the others involved with the Greenbridge project in early December to discuss approval of the Pre-Application proposal and the 3-Star Built Green qualification. In early January, the contractor selection committee will meet to create a short-list for consideration.
August 2006
Staff met with officials from the City of Seattle and the Seattle Public Library (SPL) regarding the Greenbridge Library project. The YWCA needs a long-term lease commitment in order to borrow enough money to cover the project’s capital costs. Since Seattle may annex this area, a discussion was held to formalize SPL’s long-term involvement in the event of annexation. The Seattle Mayor’s office has committed verbally to the agreement and the SPL administrators are interested in finding out the logistics and lease amounts. KCLS is still negotiating the lease agreement with the YWCA for the project. The Greenbridge Library will comprise 43.4% of the community center building.
July 2006
KCLS will occupy 2,200-square-feet. Initial interiors planning meeting has taken place. Additional information from is needed to continue with design. Planning meetings will take place in August.
May 2006
Review and approval of exterior design with King County Housing Authority has occurred.
April 2006
Ongoing design meetings are taking place with the architects, YWCA and WSU. A design review with the King County Housing Authority is planned for May 11, Architectural materials and building evaluations will be discussed. Upon approval of exterior design, interior design will commence.
September 2005
Bi-weekly meetings are occurring to discuss site design for the Greenbridge Library. KCLS will be a tenant in partnership with the YWCA and Washington State University (WSU) extension.
February 2005
The Greenbridge Library (aka Park Lake) continues to develop. The King County Housing Authority has started demolition of existing homes and streets to make way for the new development. KCLS is working with the YWCA to occupy a new building. KCLS will lease approximately 2,200 square feet. In March, Greg Smith will serve as the contact for tenant improvements, design and implementation.
January 2005
Planning sessions have been held with the YWCA and other service providers to develop the building plans for the future Library Connection @ Greenbridge.
