Developer Unveils Plan for Library Plaza

With an eye toward increasing residents’ access to educational facilities, a local developer has unveiled plans for a $3-million library plaza.

The project, proposed for a one-acre vacant lot at Maclay Avenue and 3rd Street, will include a two-story public library, bookstore, photocopy center, magazine stand, educational supplies store, pedestrian mall, clock tower and food court, said developer Severyn I. Aszkenazy of Pueblo Contracting Services in San Fernando.

“I hope that this will become a landmark and inspiration to the community,” said Aszkenazy, who grew up in Pacoima. “This is a family-oriented town. People who live here put a lot of energy into their children.

“I hope that this [development] will be a focus of their family time.”

Aszkenazy presented site plans to the city Redevelopment Agency at its regular meeting Monday night. He needed agency approval to build a parking lot for 69 cars on a portion of the land currently zoned residential.

The five-member panel approved the project with the condition that Aszkenazy conduct a traffic study to determine the project’s impact on traffic flow and safety in the area, said Saul Gomez, assistant to the city administrator.

Gomez said Aszkenazy is likely to come before the agency a second time to request agency funds for library construction. The developer is in discussions with county officials on how to jointly fund the library project.

With the passage of Proposition BB--a bond measure to fund school improvements--voters showed they were willing to spend money on education projects, Aszkenazy said.

“We want to contribute to the energy going into education,” he said. “We hope to stimulate other economic development projects.”