Streamwood hears plans for library expansion

Poplar Creek Library officials Thursday presented their expansion plans to the Streamwood village board in hopes of receiving final approval in two weeks.

The $22.7 million project approved by voters last spring seeks to double the size of the 48,000-square-foot library at 1405 S. Park Ave., by beginning construction next spring.

An aspect of the plan Streamwood trustees were most interested in was the proposed "green roof" intended to be environmentally friendly.

A green roof is essentially vegetation planted in a 4-inch soil base on the top of a building roof. Chicago's city hall and the Oak Park Library are among the local buildings to have already borrowed this long-tested European idea.

The most practical side of a green roof is its ability to not only replace but improve upon the amount of storm water retention that would normally be handled by an underground concrete vault.

Because of the extra space the library expansion will occupy on the 2.2-acre site, such underground storm water retention is even less practical than usual.

Streamwood Public Works Director John White endorsed the system, saying it creates more water retention volume than needed.

"I think it's a good system," White said. "I think it's an excellent method of storm water retention. It's been used in other parts of the world for a long time."

Underground retention vaults, on the other hand, are much more difficult to maintain, he added.

"They're out of sight, out of mind until they don't work," White said.

Library officials said the roof itself would cost between $250,000 and $300,000. Though more expensive to build than a traditional roof, it promises to make up for it with less costly maintenance

The main point of the expansion project is to improve the library, which has already lasted nearly 10 years longer at its current size than the 20 years originally envisioned, library attorney Donna McDonald said.

"Right now it's not ADA-compliant," she said, referring to the greater building access promised by the Americans with Disabilities Act. "It's not a welcoming place for technology. We want to change that. We want to bring it into the 21st century."

The village board could vote on final approval as early as its next meeting on Oct. 18.