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Politics & Government

Breaking Down the New Library's $64M Price Tag

A closer look at the entire project cost finds the library's construction amounting to just $17 million.

The new ago to raves from residents impressed with the new facility, some calling it a “showcase” and a “crown jewel” for the city. While people continue to talk about the library, and its price tag, others wonder if it's really worth $64 million.

Turns out that cost is connected not just with the library, but with the entire project. In addition to the construction of the 32,000-square-foot library, that $64 million includes the new parking deck behind the library, the creation of additional parkland and .

Construction manager Dan Adams, who is overseeing all of the city’s 25th Anniversary Capital Projects, including the redesign of Plummer Park and the new automated parking structure behind City Hall, offered a breakdown of the costs. 

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A $17-million building

Construction of the library cost $17 million, which Adams said was a very reasonable price. He cited a cost study done prior to the City Council giving its final approval.

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“The bottom line is that [the study] showed $17 million was a reasonable cost relative to other libraries,” said Adams of Heery International Inc

Included in the $17 million was the ornate wood ceiling with recurring flower design on the library’s second floor. Adams estimated the ceiling, made of bamboo, ran $1.5 to $2 million. 

“It was intended to be a showcase ceiling,” said Adams, noting that it is one of the features people routinely mention.

Architect Steve Johnson of the Culver City-based Johnson Favaro said during the project's design phase they decided to include that bamboo ceiling, because “all great reading rooms in the world have a wood ceiling.”

The furniture, fixtures and equipment inside the library cost another $4 million. Included in that price are the computers and audiovisual equipment.

Council chambers, parking deck and parkland

On the street level, the new Council Chamber and nearby area across the autocourt ran $6 million, including the furniture, fixtures and equipment.

The five-story, 333-space parking deck with tennis courts on top, plus the adjacent single-story, 90-space parking garage for library patrons, cost $16 million. That averages out to $40,000 per parking space, which Adams says is the standard price of a parking space these days.  

Creation of parkland atop the library parking garage, and the currently under way conversion of the old basketball court, old baseball field and parking spaces in front of the old library into parkland costs another $8 million.

The architect’s fees for the designs came to $9 million.

Land purchase

Finally, purchasing the land on which the new library sits from Los Angeles County cost $4 million.

Many wonder why the city had to purchase that land, assuming it became part of the city in 1984 when West Hollywood was incorporated.

As City Attorney Mike Jenkins explained, only the streets and parkland were transferred with cityhood. Included in the parkland were the buildings/facilities connected to park use (the auditorium, swimming pool, etc.).

Since the Ron Stone Clinic, which sat on that parcel, was an office building not directly tied to park use, it did not become part of the city’s property. Thus, the city had to purchase the land from the county before construction could begin on the new library.

“We paid fair market value for the acquisition,” reported Jenkins, who said the $4 million sale went through in April 2009, just before construction began.

The city also had to purchase the land on which the old, Edward Fickett-designed library building sat from the county. Jenkins said that was sold for $1 with the understanding the land could only be used for green space.

With that breakdown comes the total cost of $64 million.

Adams was quick to note that the timing of the construction worked to the city’s advantage.

“We were lucky. We went out to bid at one of the lowest moments in California history since the Depression,” said Adams. “Contractors were unbelievably nervous that the bottom had fallen out of the market. They went after our project with a vengeance. They all tried to compete for it.”

Even though state law requires the contract be awarded to the lowest bidder, Adams said they got an excellent contractor.

“W.E. O’Neil and team produced such a wonderful quality project. It’s not something that you get to say a lot in public projects,” said Adams, who added he worked well with the O’Neil crew during the 27 months of construction. “It’s nice to be able to say at the end of the project that we’re all still speaking to one another.”

Overall, Adams is proud of the finished product and how well the project went, he said.

“This has been particularly proud for me, because I’m a West Hollywood resident,” Adams said. “I got to walk to work, and now I get to enjoy the library and park.” 

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