(L-R) Library Director Michelle Perera, Mayor Victor Gordo, Asm. Chris Holden (Photo – City of Pasadena)
On Sept. 27, 2021, at the start of the regularly scheduled City Council meeting, Assemblymember Chris Holden presented a check for $4 million to the City of Pasadena to help repair the nearly 100-year-old Central Library.
By News Desk
At the City Council meeting, Assemblymember Holden said, “Having served on this council, I understand first-hand how important this library is to the community.”
On May 3, 2021, City officials were forced to close Central Library for a required seismic retrofit and restoration to meet life safety requirements. A structural assessment revealed that most of the building consists of unreinforced masonry.
The city moved to work towards identifying a plan for seismic upgrades, restoration, and reopening of the facility. After the city reached out to Assemblymember Holden, it was announced a month later that the State of California had approved in its budget $4 million to be used for the design and drawings for the seismic upgrades of the Pasadena Central Library.
With initial funds now secured, the City will assemble and manage an architectural engineering design team of experts that will bring the iconic Central Library back online to ensure access to library services and programs for future generations, and to preserve the historical features of the Central Library building.
In the previous year, prior to the pandemic closure, Pasadena Public Library greeted over 616,000 guests, with the Pasadena Central Library hosting 232 group events and 876 community and organization meetings.
The Central Library will be 100 years old on February 12, 2027.
Source: City of Pasadena. Edited by Ann Hunnewell
$4 million for the design. It will be interesting to see what the implementation will cost and where the funding will come from.
Yes, I’m in favor of it. This is actually a USEFUL expenditure of public money.
What about essential worker who did not get the hero pay in Pasadena like the retail store, supermarket ect. we have put our life’s on the line from or help to pay our rent, light bill , food for our family..