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Vashon: Monthly Update Archives

November 2007
KCLS continues to explore possible sites for the new Vashon Library. Options include Ober Park, existing buildings on Vashon that may be on the market in the future, or the K2 Sports site. The K2 property has not been sold, but once the ownership of the property is settled, KCLS will explore the possibility of developing the 11,000 square foot building on that site into a library. KCLS Facilities staff continues to monitor the progress on the sale of the property.

September 2007
KCLS continues to explore possible sites for the new Vashon Library. Options have included Ober Park, existing buildings on Vashon that may be on the market in the future, or the K2 Sports site. The K2 property has not been sold, but once the ownership of the property is settled, KCLS will explore the possibility of developing the 11,000 square foot building on that site into a library. KCLS Facilities staff continues to monitor the progress on the sale of the property.

April 2007
In addition to the offer by the Vashon Parks District Department to build a new library at Ober Park, KCLS staff is considering alternative locations for the new Vashon Library, including existing buildings that could be on the market in the next few years. One community landowner, K2 Sports, is moving their operations off Vashon Island. They have already turned over some of their properties to the Vashon Rotary. This may have a direct or indirect impact on the properties that are available on Vashon Island. The search will continue until there is sufficient information for a public discussion.

March 2007
The Board of Trustees reviewed the library site study for Ober Park by architects Bohlin Cywinski Jackson, the planning for which included staff from both KCLS and the Vashon Park District (VPD). Public discussions were held to discuss the process and the conclusions from the study. One of KCLS’ preferred alternatives was not feasible following the receipt of a letter from the VPD Board that denied any extension of the current ground lease for the existing library. The VPD’s preferred alternative included building a new library and associated parking on the current Ober Park parking lot. KCLS staff could not recommend this alternative because it would provide a library that is no larger than the existing building. As a result, the KCLS Board asked staff was asked to continue pursuing viable alternatives other than Ober Park.

February 2007
More than 70 people, including Vashon Park District Commissioners, attended the public meeting about the Vashon Library on February 13. Bill Ptacek led the discussion with a brief history of the capital project, the rapid escalation in the costs of construction and the current status of the negotiations with the Park District. The architects were present to review the options to build a new library or expand the current library. Members of the Park District Board have been quite vocal about their interest in having the library in a different location on Ober Park. There was much comment about having the new construction fashioned so that the park district and library buildings are connected.

At the February 27 KCLS Board meeting, the Trustees advised staff to continue looking for other site alternatives, in light of the information from the Vashon Park District indicating that "they will not approve an extended lease for the purpose of expanding the existing library and will not approve an extended lease for this purpose."

January 2007
Bohlin Cywinski Jackson has worked through site alternatives for the Board of Trustees to consider. A professional cost estimator has identified the current construction costs anticipated for each alternative. Staff will report on these alternatives at the Finance Committee, as well as a public meeting to be held on Vashon Island on February 13, 2007.

December 2006
Staff and a Board member met with representatives of the Vashon Parks District Board regarding the expansion of the Vashon Library. A Vashon Parks District Board member proposed that KCLS take a look at another Park District-owned site on Vashon Island. KCLS agreed to study the cost of constructing a library on this alternative site with the funding available through the Capital Bond Measure and in the face of rapidly escalating construction costs.

November 2006
At a November public meeting on Vashon, KCLS staff and Bohlin Cywinski Jackson architects presented a conceptual plan to expand the Vashon Library on its current site. Due to cost escalations during the past three years, the allocated funds for this project are not sufficient to design and construct a library on a new site because infrastructure and related mitigation costs would be significantly more. The plans presented included a project that involves constructing approximately 3,900-square-feet of new building and renovating 6,100-square-feet of the existing building. At the public meeting, members of the Vashon Parks Board expressed concern that KCLS was not going to build a new library. Other community members supported expansion. KCLS will need to negotiate a long-term lease with the Parks District since the current lease expires in 2017. Initial plans show that the current site could accommodate the expansion with little or no impact on the park. The architects will begin the pre-design and program development work necessary to understand the impact and cost associated with this concept.

October 2006
A public meeting is scheduled for November 2, 2006 to present the conceptual plans for expanding and renovating the Vashon Library on the current site. Bohlin Cywinski Jackson will share current ideas for the project. The planning process, which began earlier this year, will be completed based on the outcome of this meeting. KCLS, the Vashon Parks District and the public have investigated alternative locations for the library on Ober Park.

September 2006
During the past month, staff has explored the idea of expanding the current library as a preferred alternative due in large part to the tremendous increase in construction costs. The Vashon Library expansion is similar in scope to the Woodmont Library project. The cost estimates for the Woodmont Library exceed the current planned budget for Vashon. It appears the only solution within KCLS’ resources is to redevelop and expand the current building. A public meeting is being planned to discuss this option with local residents. The Vashon Parks Board has been informed of this recommendation and understands that the planning for an exchange of locations has been placed on hold. KCLS will need to negotiate a long-term lease with the Parks District since the current lease expires in 2017.

August 2006
Discussions have continued to determine the optimum solution for developing a new library and relocating the Parks District offices to the existing library on Ober Park. KCLS and Vashon Parks District representatives recently met with King County Metro staff to explore sharing development and use of public parking adjacent to Ober Park. The first glimpse of this idea was received positively by all three agencies. King County Metro will review the idea with the King County's plans to determine if it is feasible and cost effective for them to participate in this project, as they would need approval for budgeting and project planning. KCLS and King County government are separate entities and would need to create legal agreements to clarify responsibilities and cost sharing.

July 2006
A public meeting was held at the Vashon Parks District building to present the current findings in the site planning project. No vote was taken, but the comments seemed to favor of the proposed exchange of the KCLS and the Parks District’s current locations at Ober Park. Following the public meeting, KCLS has been working to develop an agreement with the Vashon Park District for exchange of land. Clarification is needed about expenses KCLS may incur in the switch. The buildings and land appear to be similarly valued; however, the Vashon Park District would need temporary quarters while their current facility is torn down and the new library built. The Vashon Park District Board also needs to formally adopt the master site plan that would include this arrangement, as well as a vision for the park setting as a whole. It is anticipated that the master site planning work can be completed this year.

June 2006
A public meeting is scheduled on June 29, 2006 to begin public review of the impact of the proposed exchange of properties on Ober Park. KCLS and the Vashon Parks District staff will be joined by architects from Bohlin Cywinski Jackson and Gustafson, Gutherie Landscape and Park Planners.

May 2006
A site planning meeting with the consultants who will be developing three alternatives for review with KCLS and the Vashon Parks District staff occurred this month. A public meeting has been scheduled for June 29 to begin the public discussion of the impact of the alternatives. The agreement with the Vashon Parks District is aimed at creating a mutual understanding of a proposed exchange of locations between the two districts on Ober Park. A letter of understanding has been accepted by both parties. In addition, following a public request for qualifications and interviews, a professional services agreement has been completed with Bohlin Cywinski Jackson architects. The notice to proceed for the consultant team was issued on April 17, 2006.

April 2006
An agreement with the Vashon Parks District is aimed at a mutual understanding of the terms of a proposed exchange of locations for the two districts on Ober Park. A letter of understanding has been accepted by both KCLS and the Vashon Parks District Board. In addition, a professional services agreement has been completed with Bohlin Cywinski Jackson for pre-design services. The notice to proceed was issued on April 17, 2006 to the consultant team. An up-to-date survey of Ober Park is the first task to be completed. Terra Properties, a real estate appraisal firm, has been contacted to assist the library and Vashon Parks District in determining the value of the existing ground lease KCLS has until 2017. The firm will also assist with determining the current value of library improvements and immediate parking. The scope of work will also include determining a value for the proposed ground lease that will be the basis for a mutually beneficial exchange.

January 2006
During 2005, KCLS and the Parks District selected a consultant team to prepare the Master Site Plan. Basic to this plan is that the districts work together to create a Park and Library campus that meets or exceeds the goals of both constituencies. Bohlin Cywinski Jackson was selected as the consultant. They will be working in partnership with the landscape architectural firm of Gustafson Guthrie Nichol.

October 2005
KCLS issued a Request for Qualifications (RFQ) for consultants to assist in preparing a Master Site Plan for Ober Park. The Vashon Park District and KCLS will work towards an agreement for the exchange of property.

September 2005
KCLS and the Vashon Park District are at the beginning of the planning process necessary to accomplish the goals of each district. The Vashon Library will be on Ober Park land owned by the Park District. The lease was begun on May 11, 1982 and runs for 35 years. There are several issues that will require legal review related to the transfer of that land. At this time, the Vashon Park District Commissioners and the Park District Director Wendy Braikes have agreed to work with KCLS to develop a master site plan for the purpose of understanding the potentials for exchanging locations. The Park District has their main office and community building located near Vashon Highway. They need a new building and have an interest in our existing library building and parking area. KCLS would like to construct a new library that fronts on the highway and utilize an existing parking area adjacent to the new facility.

June 2005
A group of KCLS staff members met with the Vashon Parks District Director to continue discussions about KCLS and the Parks District cooperatively planning and sharing Ober Park. The meeting was enthusiastically positive and KCLS agreed to help create a revised Master Site Plan for the area of Ober Park that would be impacted by library development. The timeframe for such work will be negotiated between the two organizations with the intention to complete planning within a year.

May 2005
Staff visited the Vashon Parks District board meeting to introduce the idea of the new Vashon Library being built on Ober Park property. The Parks Board is receptive to this idea and has authorized the Parks Director to work with KCLS to prepare a plan for this to occur.

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