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What to do about DC’s Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Library (901 G Street), also known as MLK Library, and its 440,000-gross-square-foot (GSF) building was the subject of a well-attended public meeting on Friday, November 18.
The city’s central public library is in disrepair, plagued by problems ranging from outdated elevators to a poor ventilation system. The DC Public Library (DCPL) engaged the Urban Land Institute (ULI) to have an advisory panel review and assess the building’s best use, and the DowntownDC BID assisted DCPL in working with the non-profit research and education organization. The ULI panel unveiled its findings and recommendations at the public meeting to help guide city leaders and residents in deciding both the building and MLK Library’s future.
DCPL gave the panel two conditions: 1) there would be a Downtown MLK Library in Downtown Washington, DC, and 2) the Downtown MLK Library would be a 225,000 GSF central library.
The panel, which includes national experts, was asked to evaluate whether the library should remain as a stand-alone library in its current location, share occupancy with another entity, or have its building sold or leased and the library moved to another Downtown location. The panel examined the pros and cons of each scenario, but determined that rehabilitating the existing building for the library’s sole use is not an economically feasible option and could cost up to $250 million (based on a 2006 city study).
The scenario that appealed to the ULI panel the most was rehabilitating the building, adding two floors and finding a compatible user for 330,000 GSF of additional and unoccupied space. Moving the MLK Library to another site was said to be financially feasible for the DC government only if the DC government already owned the land or building where the new MLK Library would be located. All of these scenarios will require additional in-depth study.
Among other findings and recommendations:
- The iconic building has high ceilings, street visibility, and existing parking in an improving neighborhood with a multitude of cultural entities and organizations that can share space—all good opportunities
- If moved, the library could be replaced with a new tenant that could offer a café, rooftop terrace, light wells, and more underground parking
- In the short term, immediate entrance improvements can be made, such as using moveable planters, exterior and internal sculptures, and paving lights, and offering a children’s creative play area
“The findings are a first step toward thinking about how the library and its building can better meet the city’s varied and ever-increasing needs,” said Richard H. Bradley, the DowntownDC BID’s executive director.
The MLK Library, designed by Ludwig Mies van der Rohe, opened in 1972 and is designated a historic landmark. Its fate has been discussed for years, particularly as Downtown has become more vibrant and property values have soared.
Stay tuned. The eight-member ULI advisory panel plans to release a final report by mid-January. Review the PowerPoint presentation.
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