A new 15,362-square-foot library is on track to be built in the Oak Lodge service area. The project will begin construction this fall.

The new Oak Lodge Library will be on property owned by North Clackamas Parks and Recreation District (NCPRD) at 3811 SE Concord Road in Milwaukie, the home of the historic Concord Elementary School.

The project is part of the Oak Lodge & Gladstone Community Project and includes the renovation of the former Concord Elementary School into a community center. A park is also planned for the site. The entire site is owned by NCPRD.

“The county and NCPRD are working together to coordinate planning and construction efforts, where possible, to increase efficiency and save money,” Clackamas County Project Manager Jason Varga stated in an email.

The county will purchase the land for the library from NCPRD for about $370,000 per acre. The library covers about 0.5 acres. The final purchase price and sale date are not yet determined.

A few miles away, Clackamas County is also building the Gladstone Library, which broke ground in late June. The 6,000-square-foot library is expected to be completed next summer. The new Gladstone Library will be at 525 Portland Ave. in Gladstone. The former Gladstone City Hall, located on the site, was demolished last year.

The two libraries will be jointly operated to provide consistent services to all residents.

Opsis Architecture, along with Johnston Architects, designed the Oak Lodge Library for the county. P&C Construction is the contractor.

The library will include three study rooms, a community meeting room, a history room/conference room, children’s area, teen area, staff area, Friends of the Library space, seed library and computer workstations.

The total project cost of the library is $21.5 million. Funding sources include the Library District Revenue retained funds reserves, county ARPA funds, state ARPA funds and $5.7 million in budgeted County General Fund.

Construction is scheduled to begin in September, with a groundbreaking on Sept. 16, and be complete in December 2024.

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