VACANT LIBRARY'S USE AT ISSUE BURBANK OPTIONS INCLUDE CHILD CARE, DEMOLITION.Byline: Susan Abram Staff Writer BURBANK - The old Buena Vista Branch library stands empty now, devoid de·void adj. Completely lacking; destitute or empty: a novel devoid of wit and inventiveness. [Middle English, past participle of devoiden, of the hushed hush v. hushed, hush·ing, hush·es v.tr. 1. To make silent or quiet. 2. To calm; soothe. 3. To keep from public knowledge; suppress mention of. voices of librarians This is a list of people who have practised as a librarian and are well-known, either for their contributions to the library profession or primarily in some other field. and patrons. But its fate has raised a lively discussion among City Council members and a library committee on how best to use the building. ``It comes down to for the betterment bet·ter·ment n. 1. An improvement over what has been the case: financial betterment. 2. Law An improvement beyond normal upkeep and repair that adds to the value of real property. of the entire community or the neighborhood?'' said Mayor David Laurell. That's what the council will have to consider in the next few weeks, after holding a general public meeting to discuss what to do with the property. Vacant for two months now, the old library at 401 Buena Vista St. measures 8,400 square feet and stands on a sizable siz·a·ble also size·a·ble adj. Of considerable size; fairly large. siz  a·ble·ness n. chunk of city land.
Maribel Frausto, the city's redevelopment project manager, predicted that the issue will get plenty of attention. ``I think it's going to generate a lot of discussion and interest simply because it's such a prime corner location and has a lot of possibilities,'' she said. An eight-member committee of executive city staffers has narrowed dozens of suggestions into four options: rehabilitating the building for a child-care center or tearing tear·ing n. Epiphora. it down to make way for standard single-family homes, small-lot homes or a new child-care building. The council struck down the last option last week. ``When the committee was formed, ideas were thrown out for what kind of uses would be compatible,'' Frausto said. ``The options we came up with were mostly based on need.'' Though city officials are working with a developer to build a 92-space child-care facility as part of a housing project on Ontario Street, more child care is needed, Frausto said. Both the YMCA YMCA in full Young Men's Christian Association Nonsectarian, nonpolitical Christian lay movement that aims to develop high standards of Christian character among its members. and the Burbank School District have waiting lists of more than 100 names. ``A child care center seemed natural,'' Frausto said. ``It has been determined that the old library could be turned into a 100-space child care center.'' During last week's council meeting, council members were split on how to proceed. Some did not want to sell the property, but its sale would generate up to $850,000 in revenue. A child-care center would generate none. A date has yet to be determined for the public meeting. CAPTION(S): map Map: Former Buena Vista Library |
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