In response to a city request for proposals, T. Wall Properties and Fiore Cos. have offered plans for a library to replace the dated, 43-year-old facility on the 200 block of West Mifflin Street.

Wall is proposing to demolish the existing library and replace it with a $45 million, nine-story glass and stone structure with ground-floor library entrance and retail space, a three-story library and private offices above it. The library section is priced at $17.3 million.

Fiore is proposing is six-story, free-standing glass and brick library at the corner of Henry Street and West Washington Avenue abutting the existing library and next to its existing Network222 office tower.

After the new library is built, Fiore would demolish the old library and build a 380,000-square-foot mixed-use project on that site with retail space, 425 parking spaces and either a hotel or office space.

Fiore's full project, which would result in an integrated block, would cost up to $80 million with the library part priced at $20.4 million.

The projected costs for the libraries can't be easily compared because each proposal presents different approaches to financing, the developers and city officials said.

The city budget commits $1.7 million to a central library next year, and foresees spending $28.3 million more in 2010, with costs split between the public and private sectors.

The proposals thrilled city officials, who have long envisioned a new library but have been unable to pay for it.

"I am so pleased we've got two groups interested in this really important project," Library Director Barb Dimick said. "We need a new library so badly."

Mayor Dave Cieslewicz said, "Especially in this climate, we feel good about having two strong proposals."

A city committee considering how to use the library site will review the proposals and discuss a selection process at 5:30 p.m. today in Room 103A of the City-County Building.

City officials have long wanted to replace the two-story, 90,000-square-foot library, which is cramped and has maintenance problems.

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About eight years ago, the library board endorsed a $28 million expansion to refurbish two floors and add a third floor, but the city didn't have money.

The board then scaled back plans, dropping the extra floor but still delivering 30,000 square feet of new space. The last cost estimates were about $24 million.

Cieslewicz, however, has only been willing to spend about half of that sum.

The effort to get a new library stalled until this spring, when Wall proposed to demolish the existing one and replace it with a mixed-use project.

Soon after, the city put out a request for proposals (RFP) for a project, which was needed because the redevelopment involves city-owned property.

Now, the city will choose between two bold plans.

Wall's plan features a towering, oval, glass main entrance and a dramatic "hole" in the side of the structure that would serve as an outdoor patio and architectural statement.

After entering the lobby, visitors would take escalators to a 100,0000-square-foot library on the second, third and fourth floors. The city would have options for future expansion into upper floors.

Wall said his plan is less expensive, has a year of planning momentum, is directly across the street from the $201 million Overture Center, and has the blessing of Overture donor W. Jeromne Frautschi and architect Cesar Pelli.

Fiore's proposal envisions a dramatic two-story entrance off West Washington Avenue to a 105,000-square-foot library and a signature facade on the gateway to the state Capitol, Fiore executive vice president Bill Kunkler said.

The roof line would include terraced balconies for public space.

"It would be just a gorgeous building, a monumental building" Kunkler said.

The project's second phase, still in the conceptual phase, would include retail, much needed parking and perhaps a hotel.

The plan allows the existing library to remain open while a new one is built, saving perhaps $2.5 million, Kunkler said.

"They both appear to be serious, intriguing proposals," Library board Chairman Tripp Widder said. "The elephant in the room is the cost of either of them."