City Of Marion Reveals Future Vision For Old Library Location

You'll find few that argue the new Marion Public Library is an amazing space for all ages in the city of Marion. We now know what the city plans to do with the old library location.

The Corridor Business Journal reports that a new project is planned for the land that used to hold the old Marion Public Library at 1096 6th Ave. Marion city manager Ryan Waller said that the city will be working with two developers on what is described as a mixed-use development.

The CBJ reports that specifics about the development plan are not yet official, the new proposal envisions a multi-story, mixed-use building, with businesses and retailers on the main floor, apartments on the upper floors, and structured parking for all tenants. The project would be designed to "complement the soon-to-be-completed Central Plaza in City Square Park", according to a press release from the city of Marion.

The old Marion Public Library was heavily damaged during the 2020 derecho and was demolished in 2023. The CBJ reports that Waller stated that development renderings of the project should be coming soon. He also added that a development plan should be in place by the fall but that timeline could change.

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