New Public Library

In May, the City Council awarded design contracts to PGAL for professional architectural and engineering services and Ten Eyck Landscape Artchitects for landscape architectural design services for the new public library and signature park project. The contracts were awarded after the City underwent a public Request for Qualifications and extensive evaluation process. Both PGAL and Ten Eyck have a wealth of experience designing municipal projects, including the City of Seguin Public Library, City of Allen Public Library and Civic Auditorium, and the San Antonio Botanical Garden. The design process will kick off this summer in coordination with a citizen design committee and with ample opportunity for public input.

On July 25, in front of a group of library patrons and supporters, Mayor Stephen Mason announced the location chosen for the new library facility. The site, located near the Cedar Hill Government Center and the intersection of Pioneer Trail and N. Cedar Hill Road, was recommended by a citizen committee which studied a number of options.

In August 2018, the Library Site Advisory Committee concluded their efforts with a final recommendation for the site of the new public library. The City is currently in negotiations to purchase the site and will announce the future location once negotiations are finalized.

Committee Members Describe Their Experience

“The experience that I gained out of the library site selection process has been very objective, the large group allows for more diverse thinking. In addition, it promoted more solidarity within the group.“

“The due diligence that we’ve done is looking for a site that meets the requirements.”

“The natural beauty of Cedar Hill has made it difficult to pick a site.“

“We are committed to meeting the objectives of bringing the outside in.”

“Our library helps us maintain our culture and community spirit.”

The Library Site Advisory Committee began their site evaluation process by further defining the goals of the library site. The committee will use the following goals as evaluation criteria when reviewing potential sites:

· Accommodate the Library building size needed to best serve the City’s future population

· Compliment surrounding environment and align with the City's long-range development plans

· Best meet community needs/demands

· Enhance operational efficiency

· Provide flexibility to future trends

· Provide available open space for the library and community surrounding the building

· Be flexible to partnerships

· Be a catalyst for other things

· Accommodate limited Library service disruption

The Committee has also partnered with a team of professionals to conduct a feasibility analysis of potential site to review opportunities and constraints of each specific site option. The Committee will review this analysis and make recommendations to the city council in summer 2018.

In February 2018, the city council appointed citizens to a site advisory committee to evaluate potential locations for the new library. The committee will meet in the spring of 2018 to review options based on selection criteria, such as cost of land acquisition, surrounding built environment, and operational efficiency. The committee plans to make a site recommendation to the city council by summer 2018.