Mount Pleasant DC Forum

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This letter was sent to the commissioners in July:

Re: Notice of DCPL Public Improvements

Dear Chairperson Scott:

This letter is sent to you to inform you of the intent of the DC Public Library (DCPL) to renovate the Mount Pleasant Neighborhood Library Branch (Mt Pleasant Library) located at 3160 16th Street, NW, Washington, D.C. The Advisory Neighborhood Commission 1D is being notified pursuant to D.C. Official Code Title 1-309.10 (2001 Ed.) as the renovated Mt Pleasant Library will constitute a public improvement and have an impact on service delivery.

The new Mt Pleasant Library will be an approximately 20,000.sq. ft. state of the arts modem facility that will provide greater use of natural light, energy consumption, address public safety, and increase useable interior space. The newly Mt Pleasant Library will continue on the site of the current Mt Pleasant Library.

We foresee the need to close the Mt Pleasant Library for a period of approximately 24 months to accommodate the renovation of the Mt Pleasant Library. DCPL will make every effort to identify and provide adequate interim library space and provide modified services during the construction period.

When the newly renovated Mt Pleasant Library is re-opened, the community will benefit from a new state of the art, aesthetically pleasing library facility. The renovated library will be safer, ADA compliant and provide a well lit environment to engage DCPL customers in study, reading, community meetings, and other library related activities.

In addition to notifying ANC 1D regarding this public improvement and this impact on service delivery, DCPL will conduct a series of community meetings in the area to allow you, the residents and library users to provide input relative to the design and services of the proposed new library. As you are aware, DCPL has conducted the following community meeting:

I. Community Meeting
Hopes and Dreams Meeting
Tuesday, March 11, 2008 at 6:00 PM
Mt. Pleasant Neighborhood Library

II. Community Meeting
Preliminary Design
Tuesday, June 10, 2008 at 6:00 PM
Mt. Pleasant Neighborhood Library

DCPL will sponsor these additional community meetings:

III. Community Meeting
Preliminary Design

IV. Community Meeting
Preliminary Design

These community meetings will be publicized and open to all. We invite ANC 1D and the community to attend these meetings and actively participate.

Pursuant to statute D.C. Official Code Title 1-309.10 (2001 Ed.), you have thirty (30) days excluding Saturdays, Sundays, and legal holidays from receipt of this notice to respond in writing to us with your recommendations, issues and concerns regarding the above. In mid March 2008, DCPL received the Resolution of ANC 1D regarding the Mt Pleasant Neighborhood Library. You may select to allow this resolution to serve as the comments from ANC 1D, to expand or modify it based on the Mount Pleasant Neighborhood Library Community Meeting held on Tuesday, June 10, 2008. Please feel free to address your response, if any to:

Archie Williams
Intergovernmental Affairs Specialist
District of Columbia Public Library
901 G Street, N.W., 4th Floor
Washington, D.C. 20001

It is my hope that this letter addresses any concerns that you may have regarding the Mt Pleasant Library.

Sincerely,

Ginnie Cooper
Chief Librarian