LAKEPORT, Calif. – As it continues to explore future uses for the historic Carnegie Library, the city of Lakeport is inviting proposals from firms or individuals interested in conducting a feasibility study of the building.
City officials are requesting proposals from qualified consultants, building and site design professionals, architects, engineers, economic development and marketing consultants, or similar professionals interested in completing the feasibility study.
The library, owned by the city, opened in 1918 on the shore of Clear Lake, with Library Park later developed around it.
The Classical Revival style building was made possible by an $8,000 grant to the community given in 1914 by Scottish steel magnate Andrew Carnegie, according to the Carnegie Libraries of California Web site, http://www.carnegie-libraries.org/ .
Carnegie and his corporation built 144 libraries across California and more than 1,500 more across the United States between 1889 and 1923, the Web site said.
The library was placed on the National Park Service's National Register of Historic Places on April 10, 2008.
In more recent years the library has been used by the city of Lakeport for offices and storage, and isn't currently open for public use.
The Lakeport Economic Development Advisory Committee formed an ad hoc committee to consider uses for the building.
Earlier this year Carol Hays, then-executive director of the Lakeport Main Street Association, completed an application for a $5,000 Hart Family Fund for Small Towns grant through the National Trust for Historic Preservation to help fund a building study.
The city reported that it recently was notified that it received the grant which, along with $5,000 in matching city funds, will be used to hire a qualified professional firm to conduct the feasibility study to determine the current highest and best use of the building.
Anyone interested in submitting a proposal can download one from the city's Web site, http://www.cityoflakeport.com/hot-details.aspx?id=153 .
Additionally, questions and inquiries should be directed to City Manager Margaret Silveira, City of Lakeport, 225 Park St., Lakeport, CA 95453; telephone 707-263-5615, Extension 32; or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .
Email Elizabeth Larson at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. . Follow her on Twitter, @ERLarson, or Lake County News, @LakeCoNews.