Committee votes to redevelop Mill Road library, move it from 76th Street to W. Good Hope Road
MILWAUKEE (WITI) -- At a library meeting Tuesday night, December 9th, the Milwaukee Public Library’s Building and Development Committee voted to recommend a development partner for the redevelopment of the Mill Road library on N. 76th Street to the Library Board of Trustees for approval on Tuesday, December 16th.
The Committee considered three proposals for redevelopment of the Mill Road library at the meeting.
The developer team of Maures Development Group, Common Bond and Engberg Anderson was selected by the Committee as a partner in the redevelopment of Mill Road library.
TAKE A LOOK: Proposal for Mill Road Library.
The recommended proposal for Mill Road library calls for moving the library to a city-owned site located at 7717 W. Good Hope Rd. The proposed mixed-use building would include a 15,000 sq ft library or larger, 46 units of affordable housing, on-site parking for residents and library users, potential commercial space and an outdoor green space along a highly visible and accessible commercial corridor.
This plan continues the successful replacement of the Villard Avenue and East branch libraries with new mixed-use buildings. The Milwaukee Public Library’s Villard Square Branch opened in October 2011. The new East Branch opened on November 22nd, 2014 drawing more than 2,000 visitors on opening day.
Mayor Tom Barrett, the Milwaukee Common Council and the Library Board of Trustees have identified $18 million for the library redevelopment project.
MPL anticipates spending $4.5 million on each of the four libraries slated for redevelopment – Forest Home, Mill Road, Capitol and Martin Luther King.
The Committee on Tuesday night voted not to recommend either of the development proposals being considered for the Forest Home library. MPL will move expeditiously towards a replacement of the library and plans to discuss next steps and gather more information.
In all, five branch libraries will be renovated or replaced. The Tippecanoe Library will be fully renovated, but remain in the same building. The renovation is currently in the design phase and will begin construction in early 2015.
The total amount budgeted for the five libraries in $22.4 million. By 2020, MPL will have replaced or updated the entire branch system with 21st century, technology-rich facilities many of which will be part of a multi-use facility.
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