Hunt Library to be designated as a local historical landmark, but its future is uncertain
It has become a bit tougher for Fullerton’s Hunt branch library to be modified or demolished.
The Fullerton City Council on Tuesday, Nov. 23, unanimously voted to designate the library as a local historical landmark. Any significant modifications, additions or demolitions to the building will now need to be approved by the city’s landmarks commission. “The local landmark designation is very important to keep the building in its historical state as an architectural gem in the city,” Mayor Doug Chaffee said at the meeting.
Preservationists have said the Hunt branch’s International Style architecture and historical significance make the library worthy of the designation. Architect William Pereira – known for, among others, the Transamerica Pyramid in San Francisco and the Chet Holifield Federal Building in Laguna Niguel – designed the library, which opened in 1962.
The library – built with a $500,000 gift from the Hunt Foods and Industries Foundation – also served as a cultural center for the city.
“It’s easily recognized as an important part of Fullerton’s history,” said Matt Leslie, a member of the preservationist group Save The Hunt Library.
But the library’s future remains uncertain, despite the designation. The branch has not been open to the public since 2013 because of a lack of funding. A church has been renting the property.
An ad hoc committee of the city in September heard more than 60 ideas for what to do with the building, from having a children’s library to a homeless shelter. The committee voted to prioritize using the library for cultural, artistic and literacy activities.
The committee is also exploring multiple funding sources, such as grants, possible parcel or sales taxes or proceeds from the Fullerton Library Foundation’s sale of its property on Bastanchury Road.
City officials calculated operating the library could cost anywhere from $680,000 to $830,000 a year, depending on how many days the branch would be open.