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RECENT DEVELOPMENTS
Updated 5/20/08
Library Expansion History
RECENT DEVELOPMENTS
May, 2008. Library Board hires DesignGroup to implement a 12-point plan to reorganize the current library.
May, 2008. Library Board hires Pruehs Associates to do a fundraising feasibility study to fund the reorganization.
April, 2008. Library Board and Park Board close on a land swap, that exchanges ownership of the current Park driveway into Lilacia Park with a piece of land along the west and north edges of 126/130 W. Maple, intended for a new driveway into the Park.
November, 2007. Library Board and Park Both each sign the Intergovernmental Agreement. Library Board accepts DesignGroup’s report on how to reorganize the current building. Library Board receives DesignGroup’s report on eight conceptual plans for expansion at 126/130 W. Maple.
September, 2007. Jack Hedge’s final meeting with Trustees to discuss building reorganization. Library Board hires DesignGroup to develop conceptual plans for an expansion at 126/130 W. Maple.
August, 2007. Library Board and Park Board have a second joint meeting, at the Library, to discuss the Intergovernmental Agreement.
July, 2007. Jack Hedge meets again with Trustees and staff to refine plans for reorganizing the current building. Library Board and Park Board hold a joint meeting at Sunset Knoll on the Intergovernmental Agreement.
June, 2007. Jack Hedge meets with Trustees and staff to discuss ways to reorganize the current building.
April, 2007. Library Board develops a resolution dealing with site selection. In order to explore all possibilities for space utilization, and to ensure that the current building is used to its optimal capacity, the Library Board hires Jack Hedge of DesignGroup to create a plan to reorganize the current building.
December, 2006. Revised IGA is sent to the Park Board, who agree to discuss it in February, 2007.
October, 2006. Park Board suggests waiting to build the new driveway until Library construction begins. Park Board asks for provisions for a seven-year sunset clause, that the building addition be no more than two stories, and that maintenance of the driveway is clarified.
August, 2006. Library’s attorney creates an intergovernmental agreement for both Boards to sign, allowing for the land swap to exchange driveway properties. Discussions continue through October.
April - July, 2006. The plan to move the driveway is refined, and passes Village staff approval.
March, 2006. The Library creates a detailed proposal, with costs, to allow for creation of a new driveway into Lilacia Park at the west end of the Library-owned vacant lot at 130 W. Maple. It is presented to the Park Board March 27.
December, 2005. The Library receives another 1-year extension of the Planned Unit Development.
September, 2005. The Library takes photographs from various points throughout Lilacia Park, facing north, to show that, for the most part, the Library is not visible from the Park.
July, 2005. The Library writes to the Village, clarifying that the Library is specifically interested in exploring the DuPage Theater site as a site for a new Library. President Mueller responds verbally in August.
June, 2005. The Library writes to the Village, asking to be included in planning meetings dealing with downtown Lombard, including, but not limited to, the DuPage Theater site.
February, 2005. The Library Board receives a 1-year extension on the Planned Unit Development, in case it is needed for future expansion on the current site, using the same plans created in 2004.
January, 2005. The Library Board meets with Park Board and demonstrates that a new Library will improve their driveway access and have no impact on Lilacia Park. The Library asks the Park if they would consider a new Library that would be 11 feet higher than the existing building, and the Park Board votes "no."
December, 2004. After investigation and discussion by the Library Board, the Board rejects the Park Board's suggestion of trimming the building size down to 50,000 or 60,000 square feet, saying that it would be insufficient for library purposes.
September 1, 2004. The Library Board plans to conduct a random telephone survey of Lombard residents in September, asking their opinions about the March 2004 referendum, and their opinions on various sites for a new building.
July, 2004. The Library Board asks the Park Board what the Library should do to gain Park Board approval for a new, larger Library on the current site. The Park Board had objected to the plans for a 79,000 square foot building, saying it is too large for the site, and suggests reducing the plan to 50,000 or 60,000 square feet. The Park Board reiterates their offer for less than 3 acres of land in Southland Park in exchange for the Library's properties on Maple Street.
March 18, 2004. Both referenda questions for the new building were defeated at the March 16 election.
The results were:
For the general obligation bonds ($23,500,000).
YES: 4,072 (44.05%)
NO: 5,173 (55.95%)
For the increase in operating tax rate (6 cents per $100 EAV).
YES: 3,858 (41.67%)
NO: 5,393 (58.33%)
These represent all precincts reporting in, but are not absolutely final numbers, because "provisional" votes haven't been counted. These are for people who insist they've registered to vote, but somehow were not on the rolls. It would be a negligible number, so the above numbers are very close to the final count.
The Library Board will discuss their options and next actions at the April 13 Board meeting. The public is invited.
The Library is interested in learning from those who voted "no", why they did so. Please feel free to contact the Director, Bob Harris, at 630-627-0316, or b-harris@plum.lib.il.us.
February - March 2004. Library tours and informal meetings with Library Trustees have been planned to explain the library's needs and plans. More Information on Tours.
February 2004. Watch TV6 for a 15-minute program featuring Board President Linda Dickey and Director Bob Harris explaining the library's plans.
January 20, 2004. A citizen's referendum committee has an organizational meeting at the First Methodist Church, under the direction of Bonnie Fiebrandt.
January 15, 2004. Village Board votes unanimously to approved the library's building plans as a planned unit development. This means that they approve a number of zoning and building code variances to permit construction of the building.
December 18, 2003. Plans for the new library are presented during a Village Board meeting. Village Board does not vote on the planned unit development, requesting further clarification and information from Village staff.
December 18, 2003. Village Board approves putting two referenda questions on the ballot. One will ask for $23,500,000 to build a new library, including demolition, construction, furniture and equipment, fees, surveys, rental of temporary quarters, and reimbursable costs. Village Board also approves putting a referendum question on the ballot asking for an increase in 6 cents in the operating tax rate ceiling, to provide more funding to operate a larger library.
November 17, 2003. Public hearing before the Lombard Plan Commission on the library's plans, to create a planned unit development. The Commission voted unanimously to recommend that the Village Board approve the development, with minor changes concerning west end setbacks, landscaping and parking lot signage.
October 28 and November 4 and 12, 2003. Bonnie Fiebrandt, referendum chairperson, holds two meetings with community volunteers to help pass a referendum.
October 14, 2003. Library hires CRM Associates of Long Grove to do cost estimating for a new building.
September 23, 2003. Park Board gives tentative approval to the Library Board to build a new 79,000 square foot building on the current site, using the Park-owned air spaces over the current building. The approval is contingent upon development of an intergovernmental agreement between the Park Board and Library Board, and passage of a referendum to pay for the building.
July 2003. Library architects develop a conceptual scheme for a new building on the current site, to entirely replace the existing building.
June 2003. Park Board offers Southland Park, which the Library declines due to distance from center of town, baseball and parking issues, and other concerns.
June 2003. Library ends discussions with Village of Lombard concerning use of the commuter lot for a new building, due to lack of space for the building, and inadequate parking.
August 2002-May 2003. Library works with Village to try to create a plan to build a library in the commuter parking lot at Maple and Park ,and find sufficient nearby parking.
August, 2002. Village President Bill Mueller suggests that the Library consider the commuter parking lot at Maple and Park as a site for a new library building. He had mentioned this idea a few years earlier in a public speech.
June and July, 2002. Two public forums to introduce plans for expansion on current site, and costs, to the residents.
May 2002. Architects Burnidge-Cassell develop three possibilities for expansion on current site: a simple addition, a partial teardown and addition, and a complete replacement. After obtaining probable costs, and learning that the simple addition or partial addition are not at all functional or cost-effective, the Board chooses the replacement option.
February 2001. Library Board accepts a space needs study done by Library Planning Associates, showing a need for a 79,000 square foot building for at least the next 20 years.
November 2000. Library buys house and vacant lot to the west of the Library.
Summer 2000. Library Board investigates properties on Main Street north of Maple, and has an architectural firm look at other sites in town. All are unsuitable and/or unavailable.
December 1999 - May 2000. Library Board investigates adaptive reuse of the DuPage Theater for a library site, and finds it unsuitable because of functionality, foot traffic and car traffic, and safety. Residents stress their wish to remain on the current site.
September 1999-February 2001. A citizen's committee creates a long-range plan, with much citizen input. Among other things, it shows a desperate need for more space, and a desire to remain in the downtown area.
September 1998. Park District offices move out of the 2nd floor to Parkside Street.
1978. 22,300 square foot building addition completed. Park District moves into offices on the 2nd floor.
1976. Referendum passed to pay for a building addition, and to increase the maximum allowable tax rate to 25 cents per $100 assessed valuation. This is the last time taxes were increased for the library.
1963. 12,000 square foot, two-story building completed. Plum home demolished.
1928. Library opens in Plum home on Park Avenue. You can read Colonel Plum's will here.
You can read Colonel Plum's will here.
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