The Hamline Midway Library, temporarily closed for construction efforts, is expected to be completed and open in 18 months following the start date of its redevelopment in the new year. The preparatory phase is currently underway in December, during which hazardous materials will be removed, certain equipment will be salvaged and water heaters, boilers and other utilities will be shut off to safely prepare the building for its full makeover.
The construction was originally set to begin in the fall of 2023 but was delayed due to ongoing legal proceedings. A decision from the Second Judicial District Court following 16 months of litigation was reached and announced on Oct. 31, 2024. The already allocated budget for this complete demolition and rebuilding project is $8.1 million, which the city will leverage following approval, according to the court ruling press release.
The legal delays came from a lawsuit involving the City of St. Paul v. Renovate 1588, which was filed soon after the library was shut down. The basis of this suit came from Renovate 1558’s goal to repurpose, renovate, expand or relocate the existing Hamline Midway Library to maintain its historical significance, use existing resources and keep the building around for future generations.
The reasoning for these construction efforts was the Midway community’s ongoing requests for a library that better serves the needs of the citizens.
“We asked community members what they wanted from their local library’s transformation and heard overwhelming support for maximized accessibility for all community members, an environmentally responsible building, reflection of community cultures and new spaces for families and teens to play and learn, and for community members to gather, meet and work or study independently,” Saint Paul Public Library spokespeople said.
The pushing force of getting the voices of the community heard sits in the “Transforming Libraries Initiative,” which has been in the works since 2018 by the Saint Paul Public Library System (SPPL).
“SPPL is investing in three well-loved, well-used, and well-worn libraries in St. Paul that have not been renovated in more than 30 years: Hamline Midway, Hayden Heights, and Riverview. Part of this initiative also includes creating technology-rich spaces and places for families to play and learn at all thirteen library locations,” Saint Paul Public Library spokespeople said.
Matt Privratsky, an involved member of the “Hamline Midway Neighbors” Facebook group, is thrilled to have a library that offers a safe sanctuary for all interested and is accessible for all.
“For years staff and visitors had to make do with a building that was unusable for anyone with mobility challenges and generally very limited by its layout and space. Those folks deserve a community space that can truly serve the needs of everyone in our neighborhood and now they’ll get one,” Privratsky said over Facebook Messenger.
Despite the benefits of the demolish and rebuild approach, concerns for historical preservation have not completely subsided.
Hamline-Midway Resident Community for over 50 years and another involved member of the “Hamline-Midway Neighbors” Facebook group, Nikita Godette, expresses this concern along with other members of the neighborhood.
“One of the ongoing concerns being shared by our Hamline Midway residents is the loss of a neighborhood historical site. While not formally designated as such, having a heavily used site embracing decades of memories here makes it so in our hearts,” Godette said over Facebook Messenger.
Godette proposes ways to honor the library’s past life to appease these concerns, rather than trying to halt the construction altogether like the lawsuit.
“I believe it would go a long way to address our concern by honoring the original library in some way on-site at the new one. I’m thinking of an area to hang photos and historical timelines, services and their advancements, etc. Perhaps even a few older items if any are still around somewhere. Like a Dewey Decimal system card drawer for example. Another gesture could be to bring back an older service like the Storytime readings for kids,” Godette said.
Although certain community members do still hold concerns, with some being against the project altogether, the city of St. Paul maintains the stance that this is a perk for all residents.
“The Midway deserves major city investment in vibrant public spaces for the future of our diverse community. I am thrilled that the Hamline Midway Library will be rebuilt to better serve our neighborhood. This is a victory for all our residents,” Council President Mitra Jalali said, according to the court ruling press release.
