Summary of 6th Community Meeting
BPL Hosts 6th South End Library Community Meeting on May 28th
BPL & Utile Host 6th Community Meeting May 28, 2025
Sixty-two people attended the virtual meeting with the following agenda:
1. Introductions
2. Schedule and Process
3. Community Meeting Recap
4. Floor Plan Update
5. Interior Design Progress
6. Exterior Design Progress
7. Next Steps
8. Q&A Discussion
The presentation slides and video recording are available on the BPL website, South End Library, South End Branch Project Page https://www.bpl.org/south-end-project/
Here’s a breakdown of segments in the video:
6:42 Introductions completed
7:00 Project schedule chart
10:34 Recap of previous meetings completed
10:37 Review of sustainability initiatives
12:28 Building footprint review
12:32 Review of building program
13:30 Floor plans – entrance details and size included
22:19 Interior design progress
28:14 Exterior design progress including review of proposed signage
32:45 Next steps – construction documentation & bidding process
33:55 Questions & comments
HIGHLIGHTS
We highly recommend you review the slides to see the renderings of the new building which will give you a sense of the design and compatibility with the adjacent streets.
Timeline
After introductions and agenda Brett Bentson of Utile presented the project timeline (slide 5) indicating a twelve-month design phase consisting of Schematic Design, Design Development, and Construction Documentation. We are entering the Construction Documentation part of that phase which will take place over the Fall/Winter of 2025 (slide 36); he estimated 24-30 months to doors opening.
Budget
A FOSEL board member asked about the approval of the city’s capital budget for 2026, which is in process and includes $32.5M for this building project. {On June 9th it was approved by the City Council and the loan orders for the Capital Plan need two votes spread 14 days apart (per the city charter), so the first vote is passed, and the second vote will be on June 25. This info added after the meeting through contact with the City Council.}
Landmarks Commission
The design has been presented to the Landmarks Commission on an advisory basis. It was received positively and Utile was given a homework assignment regarding several details. They expect to return to the Commission in the next few weeks and expressed a desire for community support/advocacy for the design.
Sustainability
The sustainability goal of the building is Leeds Silver Certification which includes being solar ready and using no fossil fuels. Solar panels will not be installed immediately (presumably for budget reasons).
Parking
Due to the building footprint expansion into the alley, there will no longer be staff parking spaces alongside the building. This is the case for many city branch locations and has been accepted by the current library staff. A question arose about people in cars being able to park temporarily on Tremont St to drop off books; this remains an open question.
South End History Collection
In response to a participant question, Priscilla gave a brief update on plans to meet with Paul Wright the lead for the SEHC at the Central Library to discuss plans for the collection. When questioned further, Priscilla indicated it will have a visible presence in the new branch’s adult area, with display possibilities and signage.
Entrance
Several questions and comments were raised about the entrance on Tremont St. Some people expressed satisfaction that the connections to Tremont Street and the park have been achieved. With an eight-foot width to the elevator vestibule and a corresponding entrance from the street, concerns about a potential backup at the elevator seem to be alleviated.
Graphic Elements, Art Gallery, Window Shades, Signage
In answer to a question about mural or graphic elements, we learned the City Art Department is in collaboration with BPL and Utile. Art gallery space inside will be available for temporary exhibits with installed picture rails in the community room. Motorized window shades will be used to help maintain a comfortable environment inside while still providing plenty of natural light. An attendee requested a way to share information with people walking by about what exhibits and art are available inside (in the event we are unable to exhibit Local/Focus through a window).
Library of Things
Regarding a Library of Things, the staff workroom will have storage for various items which will be available at the branch. For more information about what items, contact Priscilla Foley at BPL. pfoley@bpl.org
Compost Bins Location
The location of the compost bins is still being considered; one attendee requested that residents from Rutland and Newton Streets should participate in the decision about the new location.
Summary 5th Community Meeting
BPL Hosts 5th South End Library Community Meeting on February 10th
BPL & Utile Host 5th Community Meeting February 10, 2025
Attended by more than 60 people, the fifth community meeting offered more detailed preliminary designs for our new library. It was hosted by BPL staff and facilitated by Utile, our architectural firm, with attendance by members of the Public Facilities Department, representatives from the City Councilors’ offices and the Mayor’s office, and many community members.
A recording of the meeting and the presentation slides are available on the South End Library page of the BPL website here.
Using the format from previous meetings, Utile summarized each of the previous community meetings and then provided revised floor plans with additional details and refinements.
Following the revised floor plans, they gave us a first look at how the building exterior could look from Tremont St, W. Newton S, and Library Park and then initial concepts for the interior of the building including the entrance lobby from the first and second floors and the children’s and adult’s reading areas.
A look at the timeline indicated a 6th Community Meeting sometime before Fall 2025. In the interim considerable design work will take place, refining both the exterior and interior concepts, with the expectation of putting the design out for construction bids in the fall, and construction starting at the end of the year and continuing for 18-24 months before completion/occupancy.
Questions & Comments from Attendees covered a wide range of topics:
· Concerns about the location of the Zero Waste Oscar Bins being inappropriate for the front of an important public building and a suggestion that these bins should not be the sole receptacles for the whole South End. Data supporting the high usage of the bins by residents reinforced the need. Response: Discussions are going on with the appropriate departments and the Zero Waste staff about how best to roll out this pilot program. Utile is considering how to accommodate this compost service while these discussions take place.
· What is the nature of the three staff spaces? Response: Space is allocated for facilities equipment, such as snowblower and other implements, a work room for staff to manage materials, a staff lunchroom, and a Friends storage space.
· Community members had previously voiced a desire to engage more directly from the building to the park and this design represents a lost opportunity for that, despite the good visual connection via windows. Response: For security reasons and issues with the flood plain elevation, there will be only one entrance to the building.
Do we really need the phone nook? Response: Community members have expressed the desire for a variety of space sizes, including the phone nook, for activities such as interviews or health related inquiries, which in other branches have been well used.
· Will the community room be able to hold musical performances, PowerPoint presentations and will there be accessible parking on the street? Response: There will be presentation equipment, and the room will be acoustically designed for concerts, films, etc. Details regarding street interaction/accessibility and the blue bikes have not been worked out yet, although there are no plans at this moment to move the blue bike station.
What type of restrooms are being considered? Response: All the restrooms will be gender neutral with closed toilet rooms and open sink areas.
Previously, community members expressed their desires for a third floor to avoid encroachment into the alley and the park, to promote ease of wayfinding and use of the building, and for various types of programming, such as nutritional education. The issue of internal ease of use has been solved, however, the left side of the building (entrance, ramp, borrowers’ desk) needs more work. It doesn’t foster the integration between inside and outside sufficiently. Perhaps there’s a way to improve this.
Additionally, the building seems quite “serious” and needs more “fun.” Perhaps this can be handled by furnishings. The exterior is hard-edged; perhaps it could be made softer to reflect more of the neighborhood aesthetic. Response: The next phase of the design work will focus more on the details of both the interior and the exterior. Gratitude was expressed for these comments/suggestions.
· One community member asked about the comparatively small size of the teen area to the adult and children’s areas and was concerned about the poor reading scores of Boston’s public-school children. Response: Not all activities for teens will be held in this dedicated area. For example, SAT preparation classes that are held in other branches will also be held in the SEL branch in the community room or the multipurpose room. All people will have access to the whole library; the space for teens is meant as a designated space for teens to do homework, read, relax, and research.