By ideastream’s Brian Bull
Later this month, the Cleveland City Council will consider approving funds for the demolition of the old Third District Police Station on Chester Avenue. It’ll be the next step towards developing University Circle, which will include demolishing the existing Martin Luther King Branch Library
The University Circle City Center project includes about 700 apartments and 1700 parking spaces.
Chris Ronayne is President of University Circle, Incorporated. He describes what he expects to see built on the site of the former Third District Police Station once it’s torn down.
“A high density mixed-use development that should have a very residential appeal to it,” begins Ronayne. “But mixed-use in nature with some retail and commercial spaces. And what’s proposed is a brand new, Martin Luther King Branch library for Euclid Ave.”
Steve Rubin with Midwest Development Partners figures the construction of the new library will be finished within a 12 to 18 month period.
“It’s important to note that nothing will happen to the old library until the new library is completely built and moved into,” says Rubin. “And at that point and only at that point, will the original, older, library be transferred to us and at that point we will demolish it.”
Rubin says the new library will be built around the corner on Euclid Avenue, next to the American Cancer Society building. He estimates the Project will cost nearly $225 million, including $1 million pending approval by the Cleveland City Council to demolish the Third District Police Station.