South Pasadena launches site‑plan study for Library Park campus to explore combined library and senior services

At the April 17, 2025 Cultural Heritage Commission meeting, Library Director Kathy Billings presented the city’s site‑plan study for the Library Park campus, which will assess options for library services, senior services and shared community space.

“Is the community finds that this is a need to move forward and realize that vision,” Billings said, describing a multi‑step community engagement process that launched publicly on March 17. The consultant on the project is Group 4; Page & Turnbull is conducting the historic analysis and John Lisack is listed as a consultant from that firm.

Billings said the existing buildings facing Oxley date from 1982 and are functionally limited, with accessibility and technology shortfalls. The 1930 Mediterranean‑style building that faces El Centro is a local cultural‑heritage landmark and must be considered in any plan. She summarized the project goals as assessing community needs, exploring spatial options on the small campus footprint, and producing a site plan that can be used to pursue funding.

Community outreach is under way: Billings said the project team’s kiosk at public events has engaged more than 800 people, the online survey will remain open through May, and two rounds of public engagement are planned — a needs assessment now and space‑concept feedback in the summer. The project team expects to return to the community in the summer with options and to present a final site plan to City Council in October.

Billings reviewed historical context identified by Page & Turnbull: the original Carnegie library (1907) was altered and largely removed by 1982; in 1930 the city consolidated parcels to create Library Park and built the 1930 community center building. She said the current effort will carefully consider historic materials on the site and significant landscape features such as large trees.

Why it matters: The city’s two older facilities have accessibility, space and condition deficiencies that affect library programming and senior‑service operations. The site‑plan study is intended to produce a fundable, community‑backed plan that balances preservation of historic elements with modern accessibility and program needs.

What’s next: The consultant will analyze survey and technical data, return to the community this summer with space concepts and design values, and present a final site plan to City Council in October. Staff encouraged commissioners and the public to take the survey, engage with pop‑ups and open houses, and provide feedback to staff (Library Director Kathy Billings or Community Services Director Lucy Hakobian).