Stalled South and West Branch Library Rebuilds Back on Track

The Berkeley City Council revived plans to rebuild Berkeley's South and West Branch libraries, voting in Tuesday night's closed session meeting to settle a lawsuit that has stalled the process since final plans were approved in May.

The group behind the lawsuit, Concerned Library Users, agreed not to disrupt the demolition and re-building of the two libraries in South and West Berkeley as long as the city provides $100,000 to preserve historic buildings in the surrounding neighborhoods, which will be administered by the National Trust for Historic Preservation. The settlement also includes a payment of $15,000 in legal fees for the plaintiff's attorney, Susan Brandt-Hawley — a move to expedite the conclusion of the lawsuit. 

CLU had argued the language of Measure FF, the bond measure approved in 2008 that provides $26 million for branch renovations, does not support demolition and rebuilding, but only remodeling. The group was concerned that these historical buildings, which date back to the '60s, would be needlessly lost, and filed the suit against the city in 2010.  

“We are relieved that this is over,” said Elisabeth Watson, President of the Berkeley Public Library Foundation, in a press release “and thrilled that the new branches will go forward with little or no impact on the construction schedule. This settlement is the most efficient way to ensure that our neighborhood libraries get built.”

In addition to the Library Foundation, several neighborhood groups rallied to oppose the suit, including New Libraries Now — a group led by City Council Members Linda Maio, Max Anderson and Darryl Moore.