With a January deadline nearing, boosters have raised just more than 20 percent of the remaining money they need to finish the downtown central library. From KPBS:
The San Diego Library Foundation’s Mel Katz said in 14 months of fundraising, nearly $7 million has come in, with $2 million of that being raised in the past two months alone.
He said donations are picking up, as people are able to take tours of the partially completed building and get a better idea of how the library is going to look.
Backers of the project still need to raise $25.5 million by January to complete construction after the library’s first phase is complete. Katz told KPBS that meetings scheduled with 41 potential donors are expected to bring in an additional $15 million.
If all the money isn’t raised, the city would have to delay finishing the project until donations come in or pay for it some other way.
The City Council approved the library, which also includes a charter school, in June 2010. Funding for the $185 million project has come from downtown redevelopment money, a state grant, the school district and private donations. The foundation promised to close the funding gap to finish construction without any more public assistance.
A City Council committee is hearing an update on library fundraising Wednesday.
Liam Dillon is a news reporter for voiceofsandiego.org. He covers San Diego City Hall, the 2012 mayor’s race and big building projects. What should he write about next?
Please contact him directly at liam.dillon@voiceofsandiego.org or 619.550.5663.
Like VOSD on Facebook.