OAKLEY — Fundraising efforts for a new received a boost with a $400,000 grant from a private family foundation. However, the project is still far from the $28-million goal for a new standalone structure.

Oakley library and community center

With the grant from the Walnut Creek-based Dean and Margaret Lesher Foundation, the city currently has about $10.5 million in funding available for the project. This includes $4 million from the city’s general fund, $3 million from the special community projects fund, $500,000 in public facilities impact fees, and $2 million in assumed residual land value from a planned public-private partnership with a developer to construct housing.

The money available also includes $980,000 through fundraising efforts by Friends of the Oakley Library, donations, grants, and allocations from Contra Costa County Supervisor Diane Burgis’ Livable Communities Trust Fund.

As of December 2024, the city had identified funding to potentially deliver a 9,000-square-foot modern library, estimated to be at least $1,000 a square foot. However, the city said that having a facility that would house the library and a senior and veteran’s center to meet its current and future needs would cost closer to $28 million.

Oakley Assistant City Manager Danielle Navarro said the amount of funding identified will dictate the size of the project.

Navarro said the city issued a request for proposal on Feb. 3 for the design and construction of the new library and community center as part of a mixed-use housing project under a public-private partnership.

The initial proposal will satisfy the state’s requirement under the Surplus Land Act of declaring the city’s owned surplus block on O’Hara Avenue, which used to house the Contra Costa County Sheriff Delta Station building.

“Filing the notice of availability (makes) the property available first to affordable housing developers, among other requirements, before proposals from other parties can be considered,” said Navarro in an email.