SHIRLINGTON BRANCH LIBRARY Fairlington residents should be aware of the letter (SEE BELOW) to the Fairlington Citizens Association, dated February 5, 2001, from Ann M. Friedman, Director of Libraries of Arlington County, e-mail address: libraries@co.arlington.va.us February 5, 2001 Margo Horner Dear Ms. Horner: As you are all well aware, the County Board formally approved an amendment to the Shirlington Master Plan on December 9, 2000. This amendment negotiated with Federal Reality (sic) Investment Trust (FRIT) includes approval for a new location for the Shirlington Library. It also includes FRIT's development of high rise housing and a parking facility. Construction dominos of necessity follow this approval. The high rise housing and parking facility will be built on a portion of County Trades Center land now occupied by County Parks Department shops. The shops must be relocated before the FRIT construction can begin in 2002. The new Parks building will be constructed on the current Shirlington Library site. The Parks construction can not begin until the existing library structure is demolished. Consequently, the Shirlington Branch Library will relocate in July 2001 to a yet-to-be-selected, temporary location within Shirlington. The library will be at the temporary location until the new library is built. The relocation will probably be for three years (until 2003 or 2004). The County is committed to providing the Shirlington community with library service in their neighborhood during this transition period. It is hoped that a facility can be found which will allow an easy transition of services. The search is currently underway. A web site for the master planning of the continued development of the Village at Shirlington will be available on the County Homepage for county residents in the near future (www.co.arlington.va.us under Residents, Community Forums). The information on the temporary location of the Shirlington Library when available will be included in the Community Forum. All information will also be available at the Shirlington Library. County and library staff look forward to working with the community on the design of the new 15, 000 sq. ft. library. We hope to get that process underway as soon as possible. Sincerely, Ann M. Friedman NOTE REGARDING ABOVE LETTER:
Margo Horner, For background information on the Shirlington Development, click HERE Date Posted - February 18, 2001 |