City to Fund JP Library Branch Renovation

Renovations to Boston’s oldest library branch are on the way, according to a local legislator.

District 6 City Councilor Matt O’Malley told Jamaica Plain Patch that the city approved an $8.5 million loan order for a full renovation of the Jamaica Plain Library branch June 26.

Rosemary Lavery, senior public relations associate with the Boston Public Library, told Patch $200,000 has been approved for spending in 2014 to cover design and any early construction the BPL can identify, and future funding - the $8.5 million - is projected for fiscal years 2015 to 2018.

Renovations to the Sedgwick Street branch will include improved accessibility, electrical, shelving, restructuring of bathrooms, better utilization of the mezzanine level and possibly a teen reading room, according to O’Malley.

Users and boosters for the library have been clamoring for needed renovations for several years. O’Malley says they will now become a reality.

“It’s one of the most well-used branches,” he said. “It’s been promised a full renovation. They’ve begun the process. This is huge for JP.”

O’Malley said there’s been a placeholder in the state budget dating back to 2006, but the city had not approved the renovation until the approval of the city's $2.6 billion fiscal year 2014 operating budget Thursday.

O'Malley did not give a timeline for the process, but said the city has been working with several architects on formalizing a plan for renovations.