Plans to build a new library branch in Middle River have been pulled from the shelves as Baltimore County Executive Kathy Klausmeier announced on Friday she has decided to end negotiations on the proposal.
Klausmeier cited her commitment to “stabilize our county’s budget and limit new financial burdens in an increasingly uncertain fiscal climate.”
“This commitment not only means not raising taxes during my term as County Executive, but also means avoiding lengthy and sizable financial commitments that could force future county executives to raise taxes after I leave office,” Klausmeier said in a statement.
Klausmeier said building a Middle River branch would “bypass” other projects that have long been in need of attention, such as the replacing the Essex and Lansdowne library branches, and the combined Randallstown library and recreation center.
The news comes on the heels of the county celebrating the beginning of a two-year, $22 million renovation project for the Woodlawn library branch.
Baltimore County Public Library leaders expressed dismay at the county executive’s move.
“We are disappointed to hear Baltimore County’s decision to end negotiations to build a library branch in Middle River,” library officials said in a statement. “Data shows that Middle River is one of the fastest-growing communities, yet it does not have its own library branch. We appreciate the community’s advocacy and support for this project and St. John Properties for its collaboration on creating a 21st century building that would fulfill the library’s vision and the community’s needs.”
Baltimore County Councilman David Marks, whose council district includes Middle River, called Klausmeier’s decision “a big middle finger” to residents who supported the library project.
An online petition created in April garnered more than 1,500 signatures in support of building a Middle River library branch.
Touting the benefits of libraries, the petition read in part: “A 21st-century library is more than just a repository for books; it’s a dynamic, evolving space that fosters learning, collaboration, and community engagement, offers enriching programing for children and adults, and embraces digital tools and resources while retaining the value of physical spaces. The creation of a new branch in Middle River will serve to extend these resources to even more residents in Baltimore County. Census tracts in the Middle River area have some of the lowest rates of library card holders in the county despite increases in population over the last decade.”
Baltimore County had been negotiating with developer St. John Properties to build the 25,810-square-foot branch and 116-space parking lot.
The library was proposed for construction at St. John Properties’ Greenleigh mixed-used development off of White Marsh Boulevard.
Under the proposal, the developer would build and maintain the branch, and the county would lease the property on behalf of the library system for 25 years.
Design, including input from community members, and construction were expected to last about 18 months after an agreement between the county and the developer. But that agreement was not reached.
“We are greatly appreciative of St. John Properties for being a pillar of our business community, for its genuine interest in expanding library resources for our community, and for its engagement in good-faith negotiations over the past six months,” Klausmeier said in her statement Friday.
The closest Baltimore County Public Library branch for Middle River residents is in Essex, followed by Rosedale and White Marsh.
Klausmeier encouraged residents to visit these branches, or any of the library system’s 19 locations.
