Retail Plaza Planned to Include Library Branch

The city of San Fernando has announced plans for a retail development that will also house the city’s branch of the Los Angeles County Library.

Called Retail Library Plaza, the $3-million project on Maclay Avenue will have a groundbreaking ceremony Aug. 2.

Nearly $800,000 of project’s funding has come from a loan from the city’s Redevelopment Agency. The project’s main tenant will be the county library, which has signed a 20-year lease.

The joint public and private project is the result of three years of planning, said John Ornelas, city administrator.

Construction of the plaza by the developer, Pueblo Contracting Services, is expected to take 12 to 14 months, Ornelas said.

“The whole idea is that building this retail center and a new public library are going to jump-start revitalization in our area,” said Joel Bellman, spokesman for Los Angeles County Supervisor Zev Yaroslavsky, who helped finalize the project. “It’s a commercial opportunity and a civic renewal opportunity.”

The 8,601-square-foot library will replace a 47-year-old building the city has leased since 1988, one that the community has outgrown, said Nancy Mahr, public information officer for the county library.

Facilities will include a larger children’s area, a young adult area and a roomier homework center. There will be more Internet-equipped computers, a literacy center and expanded parking.

Adjacent businesses will include a gym, coffeehouse, juice bar, florist, barbershop and mailing service, according to Bellman.

The current 6,500-square-foot library, at 1050 Library St., will operate until the new facility opens.