Library groundbreaking includes fun, information

[Chief]

They are finally kicking off this project too...

http://www.columbian.com/news/localNews/2008/06/06172008_Library-groundbreaking-includes-fun-information.cfm

Tuesday, June 17, 2008
By HOWARD BUCK, Columbian staff writer

Before they crack open a summertime book, east Vancouver readers are invited to kick off approaching construction of the new Cascade Park Community Library.

Groundbreaking festivities on Friday will include word from the Fort Vancouver Regional Library District on a new donation to launch fundraising to embellish the building’s features.

The event starts with brief speeches at 3 p.m. in the Firstenburg Community Center south parking lot, next to the library site at 700 N.E. 136th Ave.

Free refreshments will be provided by Friends of Cascade Park Community Library.

After the ceremony, children will have a chance to don hard hats and dig for “treasure.”

Library staff will sign up children and teens for summer reading programs, and residents of any age may apply for library cards.

Library design team members will answer questions about the floor plan and building design, displayed on artist renderings.

Construction on the nearly 25,000-square-foot building should start in July. Library district officials are close to reaching agreement with a general contractor, said Sue Vanlaanen, district spokeswoman.

Scheduled to open in fall 2009, the facility will be 10 times the size of the current Cascade Park library on Hearthwood Boulevard.

The project budget accounts for about $10 million of a $43 million construction bond package approved by district voters in September 2006.

Construction of the much larger downtown Vancouver Community Library is expected to begin by mid-2009, with a 2011 completion date. Work on that building’s underground parking garage should commence later this year.

Howard Buck covers the Fort Vancouver Regional Library District. He can be reached at 360-735-4515 or howard.buck@columbian.com.

[Waterbuffalo]

Boy, that sounds like its worth its wait in gold and fun too..

Hope everyone has fun at the event and ground breaking ceremonies.. I might try to come and stop by.

[Chief]

It's been a year and a half since that bond measure passed, so it's high flying time that they got started on that one at least. The Downtown library is years away...

I still wonder if this new Cascade Park branch will be big enough. Sure, it's 10 times bigger than the one we have now, but a lot of people use Firstenberg, and many of them will mob that library when it opens.

It was that bond measure that gave genesis to Clarkblog. There was so little discussion of the issues, and people had to all but sue to get an opposing letter to the Editor published, I got together with 2 close frinds, and we first discussed the possibility of opening a site to discuss things just like the Library. It took us a while to figure it out, but in September 2 years ago, just before the Special Election, Clarkblog.org stood up and took it's first steps...

We've come a long way since those days...

mrgrn

[Waterbuffalo]

Was it two years ago? How time flies?

Yeah, I remember when I first heard in my area discussion of that library and hoiw it was going to be a big todo here.

Shall I even suggest that it might be even Bigger and more popular draw than the one at Riverwest would be.

One might have to say start with location, location, location. What would happen if the Cascade Park Library became such a draw that the Downtown Vancouver jusf because its right across from Firstenburg and its nearest to the biggest population densification in Clark County?

Doubt there are any other places here that have more Densification (until Gramor is built out.) and its a direct b-line between Fourth Plain, Five corners and Mill Plain.