Deerfield Gehry

After Blair Kamin reported (registration req'd) that Deerfield - a suburb located about 25 miles north of Chicago - is pursuing Frank Gehry to design their public library, Pioneer Press's Deerfield Review announces that, "Voters in Deerfield will be able to vote this November in a non-binding referendum on whether to increase their property taxes to pay for a library expansion that could be designed by world renowned architect Frank Gehry."



Although the vote is advisory and a dollar amount won't be known until Gehry submits a proposal - which is promised soon - a positive vote would be a step towards building the library, with further approval by the Deerfield Village Board. If approved, "the village's plan commission, village center development commission and appearance review commission would also have to review any plans."



I witnessed a similar vote in another northern Chicago suburb, Northbrook. With the old, Miesian library in need of expansion and upgrade, a referendum was put to the voters, easily passing. A couple exceptions existed with Northbrook's library, though. From what I remember not only was an architect selected beforehand, but a design was presented to the public at the library before the vote. But mainly, the locally-designed addition was interesting in parts but overall a confused design that added to the existing building with little respect or ingenuity. Regardless, I voted in favor of spending money on the library, the only time I ever voted in Northbrook, for that reason alone.



Deerfield voters will be in a similar situation, but they will be faced with a much more difficult variable: the presence of Gehry. While he is the most popular architect in the world right now, many people are still unfamiliar with his buildings, and may scoff at second- and third-hand stories of cost overruns and wacky designs. With a property tax increase in the future almost certain, the prospect of paying more for a Gehry library may not be appealing to voters. But it will definitely help create a landmark in the rather drab suburb, giving the community something they can be proud of, while also providing a valuable public place.



(via Archinect)