Is the Springfield Urban League finally getting ready to vacate the building at 765 State St., more than eight months after the City Council took the building by eminent domain?
According to the most recent update from the City Hall Law Department, the Urban League is—finally—in negotiations for a potential new home for the agency. In 2003, the Urban League had bought 765 State—at the time, the site of the Mason Square branch library—in a secretive, and controversial, deal with the Springfield Library & Museums Association. Since then, neighborhood residents and their allies have been working to restore full library services to the neighborhood.
In a May 14 update on the process, city attorney Robert Warren wrote, “[Urban League President Henry] Thomas has reported this week, to the City’s relocation consultant, Steve Mollica, that the Urban League is currently in negotiations with a couple of sites, from the pool of sites that Urban League has been reviewing.”
In addition, city officials are preparing to reclaim the library by November; according to Warren’s message, representatives from the Law, Library and Facilities departments met earlier this month to discuss renovations and necessary repairs to the building, including roof repairs. Floor plans for the newly renovated library are available on the city library website.
Meanwhile, for eager Mason Square bookworms anxious to get back into their library before November, relief might be on the way: Warren reports that Library Director Lee Fogarty has proposed building a “reading garden” at 765 State this summer. “Costs and plans for this endeavor are currently under development,” he wrote.
