DULUTH, MN (Northern News Now) – Last week, Mayor Emily Larson announced a goal of converting Duluth’s Downtown Library into a multi-purpose community service center.
This goal would include a redesign and renovation with construction starting within the next couple of years.
At Monday night’s meeting, the Duluth City Council began working on what that will look like, and how it would be funded.
Library officials, along with members of the Duluth Library Foundation, brought forth three different resolutions for the council.
Hiring an architecture firm to write up a pre-work plan, a resolution to approve funding for a community outreach consulting firm and approving funds from the Duluth Library Foundation.
That would all lay the foundation for renovations to begin, which include making space for the workforce development center and other community services.
At the meeting, the council voted unanimously to approve:
$45,000 for third-party community engagement services
$214,000 for a third-party architecture firm for pre-designs
$150,000 from the Duluth Library Foundation.
The pre-design plan and community engagement results will eventually be taken to state lawmakers with the goal of receiving state funding from the 2024 bonding session.
(from Northern News Now)
