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Yesterday, the estimable Michael Neibauer broke down the cost of the new West End Library, to be built by EastBanc. It seemed to him a bit much that the library itself should cost $2.5 million, while everything else ran the cost up to a total of $9 million.
Now, I’m not certain that EastBanc isn’t bilking the District with all those incidentals. But it’s worth noting that $9 million is a bargain as far as District Libraries are concerned. Most of the new libraries are about the same size as the planned West End, at more or less 20,000 square feet. But they’re all more expensive. Here are the totals, via DCPL:
Watha T. Daniel/Shaw: $15 million
Anacostia: $14.7 million
Francis Gregory: $13.4 million
Tenley/Friendship: $16.1 million
Benning: $15.7 million
Washington Highlands: $15 million
The historic renovations, including Petworth, Georgetown, Takoma Park, and Mt. Pleasant, are in that range as well (though Georgetown tops them all, at $22 million).