Statement before Glenn A. Walsh

Pittsburgh City Council -- P.O. Box 1041

Historic Hazelwood Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15230-1041 U.S.A.

Library Building: Telephone: 412-561-7876

Public Hearing Electronic Mail: < gawalsh@andrewcarnegie.cc >

This Week Internet Web Site: < http://www.andrewcarnegie.cc >

2003 November 3

Good morning. I am Glenn A. Walsh of 633 Royce Avenue, Mount Lebanon. Today, I am representing no formal organization.

Pittsburgh City Council will sponsor a public hearing on the proposed abandonment of the historic Hazelwood Branch Library Building on Wednesday, November 5 at 1:30 p.m. in the Council Chamber, on the fifth floor of the City-County Building, located on Grant Street at Forbes Avenue, Downtown.

In September, The Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh proposed to move their Hazelwood Branch out of the historic, 103-year old, Andrew Carnegie-built building on Monongahela Street. The branch library would be moved to a smaller site, on the second floor of a new commercial building, above a deli and laundromat, only three blocks away from the historic building!

Also, to be abandoned is the Library's beautiful stained-glass dome, above the original mahogany

circulation desk, as well as a 250-seat auditorium, with an entrance just one block up from Second Avenue!

There will be no auditorium at the new site.

The proposed move was announced on September 9, by Carnegie Library officials, at a neighborhood meeting held in the Library’s auditorium, which is wheelchair-accessible. The proposed move was opposed by the majority of the 75 people in attendance. Yet, Carnegie Library officials continue to plan for this move, which would result in another abandoned building in the neighborhood.

People wishing to comment on the proposed library building abandonment can telephone 412-255-2138 to pre-register to speak at the hearing; once again, the telephone number to pre-register to speak at the public hearing is 412-255-2138. Oral statements must be limited to three minutes, but there is no limit to the submission of additional written testimony.

For people who cannot attend the hearing, they can still have their voices heard on this important matter. Send written comments, regarding the proposed library building abandonment, to --
 
E-Mail: < savehazelwoodlibrary@andrewcarnegie.cc >
 
or – U.S. Mail:  P.O. Box 1041 Pittsburgh PA, Zip Code: 15230.
 
All written comments received will be submitted to City Council and made a part of the official record of the public hearing.
 
For more information about the hearing or the proposed library abandonment, telephone 412-561-7876; again, 412-561-7876.
 
Again this public hearing will be on Wednesday, November 5 at 1:30 p.m. in the City Council Chamber. To pre-register to speak, call 412-255-2138.
 
If you cannot attend, you can send written comments to:
 
E-Mail: < savehazelwoodlibrary@andrewcarnegie.cc >
 
or – U.S. Mail:  P.O. Box 1041 Pittsburgh PA, Zip Code: 15230

For more information telephone 412-561-7876; again, 412-561-7876.

Thank you.

gaw