$23.5 million lecture hall wins Newport Beach council approval
Construction could begin next month and the hall could open by 2026.
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Construction could begin next month and the hall could open by 2026.
Construction on the lecture hall, which will cost an estimated $23.5 million overall, is expected to begin this spring for completion in winter 2025. The Newport Beach Public Library Foundation is expected to split its costs with the city.
In the last few days, though, at least 200 emails have flooded City Hall, with more residents questioning the new price tag and the city's contribution than supporting the project.
This is the second time the project has gone out to bid, and total estimated costs have risen. Initial talks for a library lecture hall date back to 2017.
The cost has grown to $19.3 million from initial estimates a couple of years ago.