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Project news

July 2022: The Woodland Community Library project has been on hold since late 2020 when the budget estimate for the 12,000 square foot library came in at over $7 million, nearly $2 million over our proposed budget. Cost drivers were primarily site work, as the land is extremely sandy and will require substantial remediation to allow for construction. FVRL commissioned a review of the building program in June 2021 to look for areas where we could reduce the overall cost. After talking to the community for several months, it was determined the best course going forward would be to reduce the overall size. It is anticipated that construction on the new library will start next spring.

Design development for the new library is beginning this month. Going forward with a smaller (approximately 7500 square foot) building will allow FVRL to bring a new library to the community and reserve the opportunity to expand it in the future when more funds may be available. Over the past year, additional money has been allocated to the project, including $1.5 million from FVRL's capital reserves, and our Foundation has secured an additional $2.5 million in capital grants from the Washington State Legislature in the 2021 and 2022 sessions. The Library Board recently surplused one half acre of the 2.4 acre property to sell as it is not needed for the new library project. A subdivision of the land is expected to be completed later this summer.

December 2021: Woodland Community Library has been on hold since late 2020 when the budget estimate for the 12,000 square foot library was over $7 million, nearly $2 million over our proposed budget. Cost drivers were primarily site work, as the land is extremely sandy and will require substantial remediation to allow for construction. FVRL commissioned a review of the building program in June 2021 to look for areas where we could reduce the overall cost. After talking to the community for several months, it was determined the best course going forward would be to reduce the overall size.

It was decided at the December 13, 2021 Library Board of Trustees meeting to go forward with the project at a reduced size. Over the past year, a number of critical opportunities have developed including a $2 million Library Capital Fund grant from the Washington State Legislature that has a limited window for expenditure of two years. Going forward with a smaller (approximately 7500 square foot) building will allow FVRL to bring a new library to the community and reserve the opportunity to expand it in the future when more funds may be available. Work on the redesign process will begin early in 2022. Join us for an update on progress at the April 23rd Love Your Library event!