City Setting The Stage To Make Old Central Library A Homeless Shelter

By Lisa Halverstadt, the Voice of San Diego

September 2, 2022

The city is quietly preparing to turn part of the long-vacant old Central Library into a homeless shelter.

For nine years, the former downtown library has sat empty. For much of that time, advocates have questioned whether the building often surrounded by homeless camps could become a shelter.

The city is now setting the stage to make that happen.

“Thanks to the mayor’s leadership and persistence, we are now in a place where we can begin initial work to repurpose a portion of the building for shelter,” Rachel Laing, a spokeswoman for Mayor Todd Gloria, wrote in an email.

Laing said the hope is that the city can initially provide shelter at the old library when inclement weather arises this winter and eventually make it a permanent shelter. She did not elaborate on the specific work being done on the building, but said the city is “doing some very modest preparations” to pave the way to repurpose the building.

Gloria last year directed city officials to assess several city buildings including the old library to see if they could shelter homeless residents. This March, city attorneys filed a court action to try to clear an 1899 deed restriction that had complicated plans to redevelop the library.

An initial Superior Court hearing over a little-known requirement that seems to mandate that the property house a public library and reading room is set for next month.

Gloria’s office previously said the city didn’t believe the language in the 1899 deed signed by civic leader George Marston should restrict its use of the site, but that it wanted the court to formally bless that conclusion before it proceeds.

Laing said Gloria recently directed city staff to take steps to prepare so the city can move quickly if it gets a favorable court ruling.

“We feel confident enough that we can at least start preparing for ultimately getting that cleared,” Laing said.

Early Friday, several city workers gathered to resume work inside the building.

Public restrooms stationed near the building’s entrance that serve the dozens of homeless residents in the blocks surrounding the library for now remain there.

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