San Diego

$20M Project to Replace Aging Mission Hills-Hillcrest Library

A $20 million new library shared between San Diego's Mission Hills and Hillcrest neighborhoods is on its way completion. 

The 14,000-square-foot, state of the art building is anticipated to be completed by 2019, according to a statement from the City of San Diego.

The library will be named the Mission Hills-Hillcrest/Harley and Bessie Knox Branch Library after Harley and Bessie Knox, two leaders and philanthropists in the San Diego community, according to a statement.

Amenities include a community gathering area, study rooms, computer, teen and child areas. It will also have an underground parking garage, drought tolerant landscape and is expected to earn the highest level of water and energy efficient certification, according to the City of San Diego.

Mayor Kevin Faulconer said the new library will help the community grow. It is the second one built since he took office in 2014.

β€œThis project has been a long time coming and I am thrilled that the residents of Mission Hills, Hillcrest and all of Uptown can now see dirt turned and more progress made on their new library,” said Assemblymember Todd Gloria.

Construction costs are covered through a $10 million grant and memorial fund to The San Diego Foundation, and the City of San Diego will provide another $10 million, according to the City of San Diego.

The San Diego Library is raising another $3 million through its Campaign for Excellence.

β€œIt’s an exciting time for the San Diego Public Library because with each new branch location opened, we experience higher attendance at our programs and see an increase in circulation numbers,” said Misty Jones, director of the San Diego Public Library.

The San Diego Library expects its newest addition to serve over 350,000 San Diegans a year, according to a statement.

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