Coachella breaks ground on new library

Coachella’s mayor and other city officials helped break ground today on a 15,000-square-foot library and conference center, five times the size of the existing library in downtown.

Slated to open October 2018 across the street from City Hall, the library will be built in the Spanish revival style indicative of the city center and include a 34,000-square-foot park, city officials said.

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The $11 million project is being partially funded by a 2015 voter-approved tax increase, according to city officials.

Speakers at the groundbreaking ceremony included Mayor Steven Hernandez, City Engineer Jonathan Hoy, Riverside County Librarian Barbara Howison, Palm View Elementary Assistant Principal Rosa Rigueroa and a representative from the Mexican Consulate’s Literacy Program.

“This project is going to completely revitalize our downtown,” Hernandez said.

The 8,250-square-foot library will be twice the size of the existing one and feature three study rooms, a program room and separate reading space for children, teens and adults.

The 6,650-square-foot conference center will include three meeting rooms and space for a cafe facing Sixth Street. The building will also include a lobby area for special events and programs.

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