Wicker Park Booster
July 18, 2007
By Mark Lawton

Plans for a Westtown library are moving forward.

City officials are negotiating with the owner of the AAA building on the north side of Chicago Avenue between Wood and Wolcott as a possible site for the library.

A number of community organizations formed a coalition more than a year ago to push for a library in Bucktown. Those include the Chicago-Grand Neighbors, Ukrainian Village Neighborhood Association, Commercial Park Advisory Council, East Village Association, Westtown Chamber of Commerce.

Some neighbors still consider the existing libraries at 2335 W. Chicago Ave. and the branch now located in the fieldhouse at Eckhart Park to be insufficient for neighborhoods.

"We want to get away from small storefront libraries," said Aaron Bilton, former president of the East Village Association and head of the coalition. "There is a limited selection and limited resources available."

There have been two major challenges to building a library, say advocates. The first is finding a location.

"It's very expensive in that area," said Bilton. "They need 9 to 14 lots and a parking lot. The Chicago Public Library also wants a spot with access to public transportation. That limits you to a main street."

The second challenge is finding the money. The coalition made a request for funding to purchase land at the city's capitol improvement hearings. That money has not yet been allocated said Maggie Killackey, press officer for the Chicago Public Library. The actual cost of building a library -- estimated at between $3 and $5 million -- would come from the issuance of capital improvement bonds, which has not yet taken place.

A new library does, however, have the support of Library Commissioner Mary Dempsey.

"Nothing would make us happier than building new libraries," said Killackey.

As important, it has the support of Aldermen Manuel Flores, 1st, Daniel Ocasio, 26th, and Walter Burnett, 27th.

"You have many families, a growing community," said Flores. "We have a need for a new public library. We think Chicago Avenue is an ideal location."

Indeed, the support of the aldermen has been so consistent its left the community groups with little to do.

"Its kind of out of our hands," said Bilton. "Everybody's on the same page, its just going to take some time to make it happen."