The Chula Vista Public Library received $9,735,000 in state grants to make critical upgrades at the Civic Center and South Branch libraries. The grants are part of the California State Library’s Building Forward Improvement Programs. Renovations are expected to be completed in 2027.
“These grants from the California State Library allow the library to implement much-needed enhancements to our facilities to ensure they continue to support future generations,” said the Deputy Director of Community Services Joy Whatley in a City press release, who led the effort to secure the grants. “The upgrades to our two branches will ensure the Civic Center and South libraries continue to be the nucleus of learning, culture, and recreation that they have been for decades to Chula Vista.”
Construction is expected to begin in March 2024, and the upgrades at the two libraries will likely be completed simultaneously, Whatley stated.
Work at the Civic Center Branch project will include upgrades to electrical panels and services, the HVAC system, interior and exterior paint and stucco and the replacement of an outdated elevator. The library was built in 1976 on the site of the former F Street Elementary School and sees more than 600,000 visitors a year.
The South Branch improvements will include replacement of flooring, upgrades to the HVAC and electrical systems, repair and painting of the interior and exterior stucco and additional repairs throughout the facility.
