Library site could revert to old owners

Using the site for other uses besides a library would present problems. The heirs of 19th-century West Philadelphia developer Clarence Clark may soon have a sought-after campus building on their hands -- once they're found. The Free Library of Philadelphia's Walnut West Branch's 93-year-old former home at the southeast corner of 40th and Walnut streets has been the center of concern since last May, when Free Library officials announced it would definitely not re-open because it would cost too much to repair. Last Friday, community members rallied to "Save our Library" and re-open the building. Now, a deed for the land the former library is built on might end up being the key to answering the question of what will happen to the structure. Clarence Clark -- who donated the land for Clark Park, located a few blocks southwest of Penn's campus -- gave the library parcel to the city in 1904. The deed for the property states that if it is not used for a public library, it must be returned to the Clark family. Lawyers in the community reviewed the deed in 1991 and deemed it enforceable. The Preservation Alliance of Greater Philadelphia -- which has been working with the University City Historical Society and the Friends of the Walnut West Branch of the Free Library to save the building -- are in the process of locating Clark's heirs. Although Alliance official Michael Stern would not release any names, he said they are trying to track down several heirs in the Philadelphia area. Free Library officials plan to relocate the branch -- now temporarily located at 3927 Walnut Street in a University-owned building -- to a new location, but have made no plans for the old building. "We have not focused on the deed issue -- we have been focusing on finding a new building," said Suzanne Seiter, a spokesperson for the Free Library system. Administrators closed the library in 1996 for major renovations and computer installations. About $525,000 was budgeted for the work, Seiter said. After workers discovered more extensive damage -- which engineers estimated would take $3.8 million to fix -- officials decided in 1997 that it would not be feasible to reopen the building. The Free Library normally spends $500,000 to $700,000 a year on the upkeep of branch libraries. "To be honest, when we look at that, $3.8 million would allow us to do five libraries," Seiter said. "We didn't think it was appropriate to make an investment of that size in one location." The Friends group and the historical society hired their own engineers to examine the damage and received a lower estimate -- $2.8 million -- according to Kathy Dowdell, a UCHS board member. The two groups also received estimates for the cost to build a new building of comparable size, including purchasing land -- roughly $2.2 million -- and for demolishing the existing building and rebuilding on that site, which would be an additional $200,000 to $300,000. Dowdell said that although building a new library is financially the best option, saving the old building is worth the difference in terms of historical value. "If you walk into a beautiful building, you get the sense that reading is valuable and important," said Dowdell. "Little squatty dark buildings don't inspire me to love reading." Andrew Carnegie -- who donated money for libraries across the country -- gave the city $50,000 to build the library, the first of its kind in Philadelphia. However, due to changes made to the building in the 1959, it is not considered a historical site and is not a protected building. The University is helping Free Library officials find a new permanent location. Although Seiter would not give details for possible locations, she said officials are looking at an existing space in the area of 40th and Walnut streets.