Ocean View Library Planning Restarts With Series of Meetings

San Francisco officials held the first of three meetings Thursday to restart the Ocean View Library project, a plan started six years ago to provide the neighborhood with a larger library but was waylaid by traffic studies, politics and other issues.

City Librarian Michael Lambert, Department of Public Works architects Lourdes Garcia and Andrew Sohn and others met with two dozen neighbors and library users to discuss the long-simmering project at the I.T. Bookman Community Center.

Lambert and Sohn shared two presentations on the project's status and the next steps before splitting the attendees into two groups to discuss desired components and amenities for the facility.

“When we build this new Ocean View Branch Library,” Lambert said, "we will invest more in this neighborhood library than we have ever invested in any branch library in the history of our library system and that's the way it should be."

The project will have $42.1 million in funds by July 1, 2025, with an additional $4.8 million for fiscal year 2026 which would help meet 2019’s cost estimate of $47 million, Lambert said. The project has $37.3 million set aside.

During a brainstorming workshop, attendees highlighted several indoor and outdoor components they want in the new branch. The top priorities were dedicated rooms for children and teens and enough space to host community events.

City Library Michael Lambert speaks during the Ocean View Library planning meeting. | Anne Marie Kristoff/Ingleside Light

“One of the things this neighborhood needs most is community gathering areas,” District 11 supervisor candidate EJ Jones said. “We do not have enough. That’s why [I.T Bookman] is one the most popular centers for community gathering: it’s the only space that can technically be used.”

Attendees proposed including spaces for tabletop and video games, a basketball court, a nursing area, quiet spaces, small or private meeting rooms equipped with technology, privacy equipment for computer lab areas, dedicated areas for parents to have their kids while they work, an area for seniors, vending machines and a cafe.

Aside from the future library’s capacity, residents expressed the desire to see dedicated walking areas around the library for easier and safer access, outdoor spaces connected to the library, dedicated parking, an amphitheater, a play area, a basketball court, space for a food truck or food vendor, a space dedicated for workforce development and the creation of a community space with after-hours access.

“Our library used to be in a corner store, and then they gave us this one but it still doesn’t meet the needs,” one attendee said. “We were happy that we had something but we deserve more.”

In addition to discussing amenities, the idea was broached to create a mixed-use development on the property of I.T. Bookman Community Center and the Pilgrim Community Church, located across the street from the current library.

Lambert said he had met with Pilgrim Community Church’s Pastor Harold Pierre for the first time last week to discuss this option before inviting the community for a broader discussion. He also said that there were other conversations that were brokered by the city’s Real Estate Division to see whether there was any interest in other locations.

The Real Estate Division had not conducted a study of potential properties for the project, a routine workup to provide a range of sites to consider to ensure taxpayers get the best result before city departments began planning to use the open space at 100 Orizaba Ave.

Man speaks at meeting. — Renard Monroe speaks at the Ocean View Library meeting.| Anne Marie Kristoff/Ingleside Light

Renard Monroe, director of the nonprofit Youth 1st, was less than pleased with the delays.

“The longer we wait, the cost escalates and the people who have been working their tails off to bring equity to our community will never see it and I'm just asking us to be honest with the process — like really be honest with the process — because there's always going to be pros and cons,” Monroe said.

Earlier this year, the Board of Supervisors voted to approve District 11 Supervisor Ahsha Safaí’s ordinance that tied existing funds to 100 Orizaba Ave., a site located on open space that became controversial due to traffic safety concerns since it borders the busy Brotherhood Way.

Despite the split decision from the attendees to place the library at this location, Safaí urged the City Librarian and his team to move forward with design plans.

“I think we need to go ahead and plant the flag on that site and really begin the work on designing it around that location,” said Safaí, who is running for mayor. “We have the transportation studies being done and improvements going to happen. We have far more than two-thirds of the funding lined up and we have near consensus.”