Updates from the Etna Center for Community
Weeks of June 17 - August 18, 2024
Above. Last gathering in the Etna Pop-Up Library, June 19, 2024. ECO Board, left to right: Bridget Barrett, Ryan Gott, Alexis Boytim, Megan Tuñón, Veni Mittal, Mary Ellen Ramage, Robert Tuñón; not pictured: Nick Haberman, Melanie Groves.
As we prepared for the start of demolition, ECO relocated its community programs to temporary spaces throughout Etna. Four local churches became invaluable partners, generously opening their social halls to support this transition.
1-2. Disassembly at Pop-Up Library. 3-4. StorExpress unit.
With the move underway, we slowly disassembled the Pop-Up Library and Pop-Up Workshop. Over a year and a half, the Pop-Up Library had grown into a beloved space, housing thousands of books donated by the community. To protect this collection and our supplies during construction, we secured a climate-controlled storage unit at StorExpress.
1-2. Pop-Up Library, facing east, before and after. 3-4. Library, facing west, before and after.
The Pop-Up Library was more than just a room—it was a space filled with memories and community connection. Though the yellow walls weren’t exactly the prettiest, the overall smell was questionable, and the ceiling-mounted heater was, admittedly, a little scary, the Pop-Up Library was cherished because it fulfilled a real need. It became a vital testing ground, helping us understand the community’s needs and refine the vision for the future library. Packing it up felt like closing an important chapter while looking ahead with excitement to what comes next.
1. Disassembly at Pop-Up Workshop 2-4. StorExpress and unit.
While the Pop-Up Workshop saw less use, it proved invaluable for piloting maker-based programs. It also doubled as a storage space, making its relocation to StorExpress a heavier lift.
1-2. Pop-Up Workshop, facing east, before and after. 3-4. Workshop, facing west, before and after.
By July 2024, we had fully moved out, marking a major milestone. However, our initial demolition bidding process was unsuccessful - receiving too few bids and subcontractor proposals that far exceeded the general contractor’s estimate. While this setback delayed progress, we pivoted toward an exploratory demolition phase to keep the project on track.
1. Permit allowing "Light interior demolition" work.
Future work anticipated:
Start exploratory demolition.
Restart demolition bidding.