Students in The Allapattah Community Fellows Program recently found out that the Allapattah Public Library will not exist for much longer in its current location across the street from Miami Jackson Senior High.

The library sits on public land – which is land owned by the city’s residents (that’s you and me) and managed by the City of Miami. The library is operated and maintained by the Miami-Dade County Library system, which also rented the land from the City of Miami and in 2019 led a major renovation of the library building. However, on September 24, 2020, the city canceled its agreement with Miami-Dade County and instead gave the land lease to another entity to develop the land into affordable and workforce housing apartments. Addressing the need for affordable housing in Allapattah is an important and positive step, but why must the community lose the needed, existing resources currently provided by the Allapattah Branch library in the process?

For many Allapattah residents, the library is a safe space to study, access wifi and printing, apply for jobs, learn about community resources, and borrow movies and books for entertainment and education. Also, the Allapattah Branch Library’s proximity to Miami Jackson High School, Maya Angelou Elementary School, and Pace Center for Girls, plays a huge role in the accessibility of its resources for Allapattah youth. As such, its presence and current location on 1799 NW 35 St needs to be preserved.

As part of their Community Activation Project, the Allapattah Fellows have created a petition to show the City of Miami the important role the library plays in the neighborhood. The decision to terminate the lease for the Allapattah Branch Library was made without the input of the community members who use the space. The petition asks that:

The Allapattah Branch Library space and services are included in any plans to redevelop the 1799 NW 35 St lot; and

Any development done on this plot of land provides additional (as in addition to the library space) community-centered public space.

Raise your voice in shaping Allapattah’s future by signing below:

The Allapattah Community Fellows is a youth leadership development initiative by the Allapattah Collaborative, CDC. This effort is done in partnership with Public Land for Public Good Miami, a coalition of 30-groups who advocate that public land be developed equitably and sustainably. Learn more.

Thank you so much!