.

IMAGINE A NEW LIBRARY IN DOWNTOWN LAUREL

 MOVING THE LIBRARY TO THE MAIN STREET

AREA

For Laurel-area citizens

Main Street Merchants and Businesses

Residents of the Grove

A Win-Win-Win Opportunity

Here’s Why:

Families – parents, children, seniors come to libraries.

 

Libraries: A FAMILY FRIENDLY LOCATION

 

· People like places they can walk and shop – like the Laurel Meat Market.

DOWNTOWN LAUREL:

A PLACE TO SHOP, VISIT AND WALK.  

A library in the Main Street area would bring visitors and shoppers.

 

A REVITALIZED MAIN STREET  

More visitors = new shops and restaurants

 

A REVITALIZED MAIN STREET: A WIN FOR LIBRARY VISITORS AND MAIN STREET BUSINESSES

 

Enhanced property values for residents and businesses

Higher tax revenues for the city.

 

A WIN FOR LIBRARY VISITORS AND MAIN STREET BUSINESSES

 

Added Bonus: Riverfront Park: An oasis near the new library

Places to relaxWalking paths,

picnic tables

“The presence of public buildings isone of the keys to a strong and vibrantdowntown or town center.”

Public Buildings Keep Town Centers Alive

by Philip LangdonPlanning Commissioners Journal, Winter 2003

EXPERIENCE SHOWS:LIBRARIES HELP DOWNTOWNS

… “[T]the [Seattle, Washington] Library is associated with $16 million in net new spending...$80 million for 5 year…nearby businesses report increases in spending associated with Library visitors.”

… “The [Hudson, Ohio] library fulfills its role as the anchor by creating opportunities for multi-stop trips.”

Planning Commissioners Journal “Libraries: At the Heart of Our Communities.”

EXPERIENCE SHOWS:LIBRARIES HELP DOWNTOWNS

The area has ample site and street parking, parking lots nearby.

The site has the potential for expansion to a deck in the future

What About Parking?

The current library location:A Pedestrian and Shopping Dead Zone

Go To the library – Then Go Someplace Else

A busy road, difficult for children and adults

Route 198 is very busy. So is 7th/216.

A Downtown Library: Conveniently Located

Near MARC

Rt. 1 Corridor

Rt 197/Rt 198

Less than one mile from current library

On major bus routes

Access to Public Transportation:Important to people with limited ability to drive –

Seniors

Young people Adults who cannot afford or who are without access to cars.

Route G:– Laurel Main Street stops

Route G: Laurel, Beltsville, Greenbelt, Berwyn Heights,

A Downtown Library: More Service to More of the

Prince George’s and Laurel area community

by Public Transportation On 5 bus routes v. 2

DOES NOT SERVE CURRENT LIBRARY

Public Transportation Service to Communities South of Laurel

Route H: Laurel Main Street

DOES NOT SERVE CURRENT LIBRARY

Route H: Laurel, South Laurel, Beltsville, Greenbelt, Berwyn Heights, College Park

Public Transporation Service for Laurel, North Laurel and Savage

Purple Line: Laurel Rt. 1 Purple Line: Laurel, Savage, Jessup, Elkridge

DOES NOT SERVE CURRENT LIBRARY

Public Transporation Service for North Laurel and Savage

Rt. E: Serving Main Streetand current library

Route E whole Route – Laurel, North Laurel, Savage, Columbia

SERVE S BOTH AREAS

A Limited Route Serves Both

Route C: Laurel Main Street and current library

SERVE S BOTH AREAS

This historic park can and should be preserved.

The current library building can be re-purposed into an Education and Heritage Resource Center Serving the Grove Community

What about Emancipation Park?

A NEW COMMUNITY RESOURCEFOR THE GROVE

A NEW COMMUNITY RESOURCEFOR THE GROVE

Classrooms for for primary, secondary, and post-secondary education programs such as GED.

Community space for meetings

Computers and other resources

Space for county services

YES Funds are available to purchase additional

property for either site for parking.

The downtown site offers opportunities for public private development.

Downtown is in the designated Smart Growth/Transportation area.

Is this Economically Feasible?

Example: Public Interest and Private Development Can Work Together

Library + Private Development

Hollywood Library/Bookmark Apartments – Portland Oregon

First Amherst Development Group, developed this unique mixed-use project in the Hollywood District of Portland, Oregon.

The project combines a 13,000 SF branch library with 47 mixed-income apartments and 815 square feet of ground floor retail space.

This innovative, transit-oriented project is a first-of-its-kind joint venture between the public and private sectors; the County owns the library, and the developer owns the residential and retail spaces.

The Laurel-area community gets a much needed new library.

Downtown Laurel businesses prosper; city revenues increase.

Citizens have a library accessible to more public transportation, shops, and recreation.

Emancipation Park is preserved – and the Grove benefits from a new community resource

WITH A NEW LIBRARY DOWN TOWNWE ALL WIN

COMPARE

Current Location Downtown Location

New Library

Revitalized downtown

Walk to Shops

Walk to Park

Good Public Transportation

Accessible by Car

Enhanced Tax Revenue & Property Values

IMAGINE --A NEW LIBRARY IN DOWNTOWN LAUREL

South Bowie Library:under construction

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Let elected officials know you want the new library in downtown Laurel: TEDernoga@co.pg.md.us

mayor@laurel.md.us

 Questions? email BOLDLaurel@verizon.net

Thank You