It’s Worth It

The historic Central Library in downtown Los Angeles had been a prime candidate for massive renovation and expansion long before two nightmarish fires forced its closing several months ago. Since then the city’s government and civic leaders have made a strong commitment to preserving the landmark. An estimated $44.8-million overrun in the cost of rehabilitation, although worrisome, should not be used to refuel the stale debate over whether the library is worth saving. It is.

City officials, preservationists, architects and others debated for years whether to destroy or to refurbish the ornate but obsolete library. A year ago, a creative agreement between the city, the Community Redevelopment Agency and a private developer promised to provide a modernized, well-equipped, spacious library in the 60-year-old building that by its very scale lends balance to a downtown dominated by austere skyscrapers.

The CRA committed itself to pay $110.4 million in 1984 dollars to refurbish the library. The new price tag of $161.5 million works out to more than one-third higher than the original estimate. The cost overrun includes expensive but necessary changes in plans for the reconstruction that were not anticipated in the original concept.

Planners, for example, had decided to move only the children’s wing into small temporary headquarters, but fire officials determined, before the fires several months ago, that the contents of the entire building would have to be moved because inadequate emergency exits ruled out the use of the library during restoration. Additional changes include plans for a wider service driveway, elevators and a ramp for the disabled, and reconstruction of terraces on a scale that was historically accurate. These changes alone add $22 million to $23 million to the overrun.

Faced with the major new expense, officials of the city, the Community Redevelopment Agency and the library must figure out where they can save money and get closer to the budget. They should also investigate alternative outside and private sources of financing. During the aftermath of the two fires, members of the public demonstrated with volunteer efforts and dollars that they care deeply about the Central Library.

The city, the CRA and the library officials can surely come to terms quickly on how best to continue the strong commitment to rebuilding the library. The overrun should not be allowed to threaten the restoration.