CdM fire station, library plans subject of meeting Monday

The latest exterior renderings and information for the Corona del Mar Library and fire station replacement project will be presented at a community meeting Monday at Sherman Library & Gardens.

In March, the City Council approved a contract with WLC Architects to design a combined library and fire station for Corona del Mar. The current fire station and library buildings are next to each other on Marigold Avenue. The structures, which first opened 60 years ago, are deteriorating and need significant work, city staff said.

The proposed project would demolish the buildings and replace them with one shared structure. The city’s preliminary plan called for a two-story fire station and a one-story library with 2,500 square feet — smaller than the current building’s 3,750 square feet. Other layouts show a larger library space and increased second-story space for the fire station’s living quarters.

Friends of the CdM Library, a residents group, has indicated support for a larger library. However, the city has not yet selected a final plan. The City Council is expected to approve a preliminary layout and rendering in the fall.

Relocation and construction are expected to begin by late spring 2016 and last 12 to 14 months, according to city estimates.

Monday’s meeting will begin at 6 p.m. at Sherman Library & Gardens, 2647 E. Coast Hwy., Corona del Mar.