Chicago to Co-Locate Libraries and Public Housing

A new initiative from Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel calls for branches of the Chicago Public Library and public housing to co-habitate in three ambitiously designed buildings: a senior housing building in West Ridge and two mixed-income buildings in Little Italy and Irving Park. Designs for each will be selected after a competition.

"The idea is to mix uses as well as income groups, lessening the isolation of public housing residents," reports the Chicago Tribune. The "'wow' factor" of the architect-designed buildings could also placate those who might otherwise oppose the projects, the city hopes.

The new libraries would replace existing branches and be of normal size, ranging from 10,000 square feet to 16,000 square feet. They would likely be located on the ground floor of the housing developments and would offer programs targeted to children and families from public housing as well as those living in the surrounding area.

Co-location often combines libraries with another use "to lower building costs and increase the number of library patrons." As the Tribune notes, it has long been in use in the U.K. and is becoming increasingly popular in the United States. But "marrying it with new, architect-designed buildings could be unusual, perhaps unprecedented."