Santa Ana Main Library project will make patio reusable again after tree removal

SANTA ANA, Calif. - The Santa Ana Main Library is undergoing a major, $19.3 million renovation that will reimagine the space to include a custom-designed interactive children's learning area, new community meeting room, revamped Teen Space and Local History Room, as well as transformation of the east outdoor patio into a vibrant and welcoming community space after years of disuse.

This landmark project at the historic 1960 Main Library further provides the opportunity for the City to mitigate longstanding concerns associated with a large ficus tree in the patio.

Accessibility to the existing patio has been extremely limited for years, and the space has not been available to serve a community deeply in need of safe and accessible public spaces. The tree's root system can reach 30 feet or more in diameter, and 90% of the roots are above ground, creating tripping hazards for residents and staff. Situated less than 10 feet from the Library's foundation, the tree poses maintenance concerns to the building's foundation, roof and plumbing systems caused by the uncontrolled, buttressing root system and overgrown tree canopy.

"This was not an easy determination to make, but the removal of this tree was necessary to preserve the integrity of the first major renovation of the Main Library in over 60 years," City Manager Alvaro Nuñez said. "This will allow us to renovate both the library building and patio for use by future generations of Santa Ana residents in the heart of our Civic Center Plaza."

The renovation will provide a new amphitheater-style covered seating, outdoor reading areas and a revitalized community gathering space. The outdoor space will be an extension of the new large community room that will be used for Library programming, meetings, and events.

Every tree removed will be replaced with trees better suited for the east patio, allowing the City of Santa Ana to maintain its urban forest of over 60,000 trees and continue to be recognized as a Tree City USA.

The removal also protects this historic Library facility, which is particularly important as it has been determined to be eligible for listing in the National Register of Historic Places. The Library's exterior marble façade is explicitly noted as one of its historical character-defining features, and will be fully refurbished with the restoration project.

The Santa Ana City Council approved an agreement for architectural and design services for the library renovation project on April 19, 2022. The scope of the agreement contained a complete historical re-imagination of the building's interior and exterior spaces, including the east patio.

The City Council approved the project construction agreement on August 6, 2024. The project is mostly funded by federal pandemic relief funds from the American Rescue Plan Act and is estimated to be completed in April 2026.

City staff has done extensive community outreach in an attempt to ensure transparency regarding the Main Library closure and project updates. Read our June 20 press release announcing the library renovation, go to the SAPL Reimagined project page, and watch a video about the project.

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