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The DowntownDC BID and the DC Public Library have partnered to help determine the best use of the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Library building (901 G Street), long considered to be located on prime Downtown real estate. Both entities have engaged the Urban Land Institute to review and assess the nearly 40-year-old modernist building’s value, then recommend how to leverage it to the city’s advantage.
“The city’s central library has served as an invaluable repository since its inception,” said Richard H. Bradley, the DowntownDC BID’s executive director. “It offers books, yes, but also engaging speakers and workshops, and—through a partnership with the BID—an innovative outreach program for the homeless. However, the library needs to grow along with the city to meet varied and ever-increasing demands.”
ULI, a non-profit research and education organization, will convene an advisory panel of national experts to study demographics and trend data; interview a diverse group of neighborhood stakeholders; and discuss potential building uses and the ideal location for a Downtown central library. The five-day review will culminate on Friday, November 18, at which time the ULI panel will present its findings and recommendations from 9:00 am to 11:00 am at the MLK Library. The presentation will be open to the public.
The MLK library opened in 1972. Designed by Ludwig Mies van der Rohe, one of the most influential architects of the 20th century, it was designated a historic landmark more than four years ago. Its fate has been discussed for years, particularly as Downtown has become more vibrant and property values have soared. To determine the library’s best use, the ULI advisory panel will include architects, urban planners, commercial and residential developers, as well as experts in finance and library sciences.
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