Yaroslavsky Press Release

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July 07, 2000

YAROSLAVSKY ANNOUNCES NEW COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY PROJECT FOR CITY OF SAN FERNANDO

Supervisor Zev Yaroslavsky will be joining developer Severyn l. Aszkenazy of Pueblo Contracting Services to break ground on August 2, 2000 for the Library Plaza project at the southwest corner of Maclay Avenue and Third Street, San Fernando in the City of San Fernando.

"We're very excited about this project for a new and expanded County Library in San Fernando," Yaroslavsky said. "Since 1988, we've been leasing a 47-year-old building nearby that we've simply outgrown." Yaroslavsky said that the new 8,601 sq.ft. facility will house office and library space, and will serve the community with a full range of services in a state-of-the-art building that's 33% larger than the existing one.

Declared San Fernando Mayor Silverio Robledo, "The Library project is symbolic of the city's commitment to revitalize its commercial areas and provide quality services to its residents."

Developer Severyn I. Aszkenazy said, "This project, for its size, represents so many things to the community of San Fernando that one can only be very proud of being part of it."

The new library will boast two additional Internet computers for public use, an expanded children's area, a new Young Adult area, an expanded Homework Center, the reestablishment of a Literacy Center for tutoring and literacy services, and space to expand the library's collection in the future.

The new facility includes expanded parking, he said, which eliminates the current need to lease parking spaces at additional cost.

Yaroslavsky noted that the Library Plaza is a public-private partnership, which received a $780,000 loan from the City of San Fernando Redevelopment Agency for the project. Officials hope it will revitalize the area with a mix of public facilities and private retail establishment including a florist, mailing service, exercise studio, juice bar, coffeehouse, and barber shop.