Library Decision Is 'Giant Middle Finger' To Baltimore County Neighborhood

MIDDLE RIVER, MD — Baltimore County will not build a library branch in Middle River's growing Greenleigh neighborhood.

Supporters cheered the fiscal savings and pointed to other recent library improvements. Opponents think this was a missed opportunity to invest in an up-and-coming community.

County Executive Kathy Klausmeier, a Democrat, called off negotiations on Friday. The county never reached an agreement with the developers, so the library plans never advanced past the proposal stage.

Klausmeier said this was purely a decision to save money with tight budgets ahead. She worried about the recurring costs of staffing and operating another library branch.

"When I became Baltimore County executive this past January, I made a commitment to our residents that I would stabilize our county’s budget and limit new financial burdens in an increasingly uncertain fiscal climate," Klausmeier said in a press release. "This commitment not only means not raising taxes during my term as County Executive, but also means avoiding lengthy and sizable financial commitments that could force future county executives to raise taxes after I leave office."

The news came two days after the Baltimore County Public Library launched a $22 million renovation and expansion of its Woodlawn branch.

County Council Member David Marks (R-Upper Falls) called the decision "a giant middle finger to the Middle River community."

"If this is all about cost, why is the Baltimore County Council constantly being asked to subsidize development by tens of millions of dollars elsewhere in Baltimore County?" Marks wrote on Facebook. "This has never been about cost. It's been about weak leadership and bureaucratic decisions that prioritize other parts of Baltimore County."

Del. Kathy Szeliga (R-District 7A) called it "bad governing."

"What a slap in the face as this library was nearly fully funded by private dollars," Szeliga said on Facebook. "This is beyond disappointing."

Klausmeier thanked real estate developer St. John Properties for bringing the proposal forward.

The developer would have built and maintained the library branch, and the county would have leased the property for 25 years, the Foundation for Baltimore County Public Library said. Design and construction would've taken 18 months.

"We are greatly appreciative of St. John Properties for being a pillar of our business community, for its genuine interest in expanding library resources for our community, and for its engagement in good-faith negotiations over the past six months," Klausmeier said. "While a new library branch is an attractive amenity, my commitment to our residents in taking this office was to stabilize our budget and avoid the risk of present or future tax increases, and I plan on honoring that commitment."

Klausmeier directed residents to existing nearby branches, like the recently renovated White Marsh library. She also said a new Middle River library "would bypass the much-needed replacement of the Essex and Lansdowne library branches, as well as the combined Randallstown library and recreation center—some of which have been in preliminary phases for years."

The Middle River library would have spanned 25,810 square feet and had a 116-space parking lot, the library's foundation said.

The Baltimore County Public Library was disappointed by the news.

"Data shows that Middle River is one of the fastest-growing communities, yet it does not have its own library branch," BCPL said in a statement. "We appreciate the community’s advocacy and support for this project and St. John Properties for its collaboration on creating a 21st century building that would fulfill the library’s vision and the community's needs."

Over 1,500 people have signed a petition to build the library. The petition on Change.org was started in April by Alex Montanio, a lawyer, coach, professor and mom of two in Baltimore County.

Montanio's petition said, "Greenleigh is a master-planned, 1000-acre mixed-use community with over 3,000 planned residential units located off of Route 43 in Middle River."

"Census tracts in the Middle River area have some of the lowest rates of library card holders in the county despite increases in population over the last decade," the petition said. "Allow us to cultivate an informed, connected, and empowered community. Please sign and show your support for this important project."

Related:

• $22M Renovation Will Expand, Modernize Woodlawn Library
• White Marsh Library Reopening After Renovation: See Photos
• New Library Coming To Essex, Architects Seek Ideas For Amenities