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Snoqualmie: Monthly Update Archives

August 2007
More than 350 people attended the ribbon cutting and celebration for the new Snoqualmie Library. Mayor Matt Larson recounted the history of the library in Snoqualmie and recognized many individuals who had a hand in locating the new library in the middle of the Snoqualmie Ridge development. More than 2,000 items were checked out on the first day, which is half of what the old library checked out in a month. One popular feature of the new building is the meeting room with a dividing retractable wall that opens the space up to the rest of the library when the room is not in use. The location of the library, near restaurants and other retail establishments, also is beneficial.

July 2007
The new 6,000-square-foot Snoqualmie Library officially opened for business on Wednesday, August 1. The KCLS Foundation hosted a preview event on Friday, July 27. The building, which is located amidst many thriving businesses and restaurants, has gotten rave reviews. The construction crew was sorry to see the job end as they enjoyed their stint at that location. We anticipate that the location in this growing community will greatly increase use of the library.

June 2007
Construction of the new 6,000-square-foot library is underway and on schedule. The new library is located at the intersection of Center Boulevard and Snoqualmie Parkway. Opening date is August 1.

Watch the Progress! - construction photos

May 2007
Construction of the new 6,000-square-foot library at the intersection of Center Boulevard and Snoqualmie Parkway is well underway. Substantial completion is scheduled for mid-June with opening of the library on August 1, 2007.

April 2007
Construction of the new 6,000 square foot library is well under way. As of April 10, the steel structure and the cmu sheer walls have been erected. The new library is located at the intersection of Center Boulevard and Snoqualmie Parkway. BNBuilders has indicated that the new library should be open by August 1, 2007.

March 2007
Updated rendering of library design

January 2007
Staff met this month with the Mayor and City Administrator of the City of Snoqualmie. During the meeting, both parties agreed upon a buyout price for KCLS’ portion of the current Snoqualmie Library. Agreement was also reached that this buyout would not occur until KCLS is ready to move into the new library, for which KCLS received the building permit for last month. Despite the bad weather, the concrete for the foundation has been poured.

December 2006
It was “all hands on” during the well attended Snoqualmie Library Groundbreaking event on December 8! On a dry, but blustery Friday, more than 140 enthusiastic Snoqualmie Library fans gathered to join in the groundbreaking for their new building. Snoqualmie will be the first KCLS replacement library built with funds from the $172 million capital bond measure approved by voters in 2004. The site reverberated with music by the Mt. Si High School Jazz Combo Band as library staff, Advisory Board members, elected officials, architects, builders and library fans gathered to celebrate the beginning of site preparation for the new library. The Friends of the Snoqualmie Library provided hot cocoa, cider and goodies for the event and children got into the “dig” with their own hard hats and pail-sized shovels! View a photo slide show of this event.

KCLS will hold a public hearing this month regarding the sale of our interest in the current library building to the City of Snoqualmie.

Dig in! As part of the 2004 $172 million library replacement bond measure, KCLS will break ground on a new 6,000 square foot library in Snoqualmie, located at the northwest corner of Center Boulevard and Snoqualmie Parkway.

Community residents are invited to celebrate this “next chapter” for the library on Friday, December 8 at 1pm. Fun activities and refreshments will be provided.

Notice of Public Hearing- Sale of the Snoqualmie Library Property

November 2006
The groundbreaking celebration for the new Snoqualmie Library is scheduled for Friday, December 8 at 1pm. KCLS and the Friends of the Snoqualmie Library are organizing an exciting program to mark the beginning of the construction. Plans include hanging a large banner and mailings postcards to all households and businesses in the area. The new site is at the northwest corner of Center Boulevard and Snoqualmie Parkway. Staff at the City of Snoqualmie is working to complete the review of the documents in anticipation of the building permit issuance.

October 2006
Miller-Hull Architects will submit a permit set of drawings for the City to review at the end of the month. In anticipation of building construction, KCLS began planning the groundbreaking ceremony, tentatively* scheduled for December 8, 1pm, 2006. KCLS has a tentative agreement to sell the current Snoqualmie Library property to the City of Snoqualmie. The plan calls for the City to take over the site following the library relocation to the new facility.

*Once confirmed, all residents and businesses in Snoqualmie will be informed via a direct mail postcard.

September 2006
KCLS has received initial comments regarding the design review of the new Snoqualmie Library from the City of Snoqualmie planning staff. The architects will respond to these comments in order to keep the permitting process moving forward. Agreement regarding the design must also be reached between Quadrant and the City staff. Quadrant is the developer for the Ridge and has veto authority on design submittals in this area.

August 2006
Building Drawings 1- 6
Miller-Hull Architects has assembled the permit application set of drawings for the new/expanded library project. Approvals for the design must be obtained from the Snoqualmie Ridge Owners Association and from the City of Snoqualmie prior to applying for the building permit. A second public meeting was held on Tuesday, August 22.

June 2006
KCLS held three community meetings this month about the design of new Snoqualmie, Fall City and Carnation libraries (three of five libraries in the Design/Build project). The meeting was well attended.
Exterior image of the Snoqualmie Library

February 2006
On March 6, a team of 10 jurists will hear presentations by the best and final contractor teams. Following the interviews, the consultants will be present with conceptual designs for an open house at the Service Center. The best and final proposals will be evaluated for cost, quality of design and distinctive community elements.

January 2006
Following selection of the Design Build team (scheduled for Monday, March 6, 2006), KCLS expects to be able to prepare preliminary designs for public meetings early in 2006. The shopping center construction has been interrupted by excessively wet weather.

September 2005
KCLS now owns the site on the Snoqualmie Ridge Parkway. The sub-surface work, grading and compaction have been completed and by mid-October the parking lots and the driveways will be paved. The transaction should close on September 22 assuming the documentation has been satisfactorily completed and recorded. Preston, Gates and Ellis attorney Chris Napier steered the process to completion.

Donald King Architects (DKA) has been selected to prepare the Request for Proposal (RFP) for the five libraries in the design-build group: Black Diamond, Muckleshoot, Carnation, Fall City and Snoqualmie libraries. DKA has assembled the documents necessary to issue a package for contractors to understand the scope and locations for the projects. The current plans call for completion of the Request For Qualifications (RFQ) by the end of October. The overall goal is to have the contractor team selected and under contract by March 2006.

August 2005
Construction of the site improvements, including access roads, parking areas and storm water handling has begun. KCLS is waiting for clarifications from the seller’s representatives about the exhibits prior to the closing of the Purchase and Sale contract. The Seller believes closing will occur in September 2005. The seller has submitted building plans to the City for review for a small retail building that would be located next to the library parcel. The City’s consulting architect (the Callison Partnership) is reviewing it. Our concern is that the building be coordinated with our plans for the new library.

July 2005
The Purchase & Sale agreement with amendments and Binding Site Improvement Plans have been finalized. The due diligence requirements were met and the transaction is scheduled to close in November 2005, following the completion of the site work in the plans approved by City of Snoqualmie.

June 2005
The agreements necessary for the acquisition of the parcel on Snoqualmie Ridge include:

• Binding Site Improvement Plan
• Declaration of Covenants, Conditions, Restrictions and Easements
• Joint maintenance agreement
• Architectural control committee
• City of Snoqualmie’s Design Guidelines
• Purchase and Sale Agreement (and the amendment to this agreement)

The developer has met due diligence requirements and expects KCLS to acknowledge this and waive contingencies this month. Assuming construction work progresses as he has predicted, site work for our parcel may be completed in October 2005.

May 2005
KCLS has worked to receive and review due diligence documents including the Binding Site Improvement Plans from the developer. In addition, the Purchase and Sale Agreement is being negotiated. It has one open issue: How much site development work may need to be done by Northwest Capital Corp. and when would KCLS close the transaction?

April 2005
Negotiations have continued throughout April with the Northwest Capital Corporation (NWCC) attorney and principal. In addition, the civil engineers for the project have attempted to develop an acceptable binding site improvement plan. Due to the topography, including a grade change from the main entry to the grocery store of more than 8 feet, there are extensive site development costs. Part of the agreement includes some cost sharing between KCLS and NWCC for this work.

March 2005
A public meeting, attended by more than 25 citizens and City staff, was held on March 8, 2005 at the Snoqualmie Library to discuss site selection. Alternative sites were presented including:

• The site known as the OPUS NW site, east of the Snoqualmie Parkway at Center Boulevard
• The community center site, west of the Snoqualmie Parkway near the new elementary school
• The site known as the grocery store site west of the Snoqualmie Parkway on Center Boulevard

A thorough review of the Site Selection Policy was provided for each. Discussion followed and it was concluded that the best site for KCLS to work towards is the grocery store location. Subsequent to the public meeting discussions were held that lead to a compromise solution that provides for the library to be located on Center Boulevard and for the grocery store to be located in an acceptable location on the same site, serving each party’s interests.

Revised site plans should be available at the Board meeting for inclusion in the discussions about the site acquisition. Details of the transaction will be reviewed by the Finance Committee.

Snoqualmie Library Site Selection: March 8, 2005 Public Meeting Minutes

February 2005
At a Library Advisory Board meeting on February 16, KCLS staff will present two possible sites for the location of the new library. The Snoqualmie Library Advisory Board has already engaged in discussion about possible locations and will be familiar with both sites.

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