Soglin declined to say whether he’ll propose to fund the library’s request for an initial $2 million for planning in the 2018 budget, with $15 million more over three years in the Capital Improvement Plan, but he voiced a strong commitment to the project.

“It’s obviously something I really believe in,” he said. “I’m not going to pre-release portions of the budget, but development of the proposal was enthusiastically managed by me personally with extensive discussions with Ald. Baldeh.”

Baldeh said: “I think we should get this going ASAP. This is an investment with a very high return. I believe this is one of the long-term solutions to some of the serious issues the city is faced with.”

The mayor on Sept. 5 will propose a capital budget for 2018. The City Council will make final decisions on capital and operating budgets in November.

Challenged neighborhoods

The Imagination Center would be a place for the community to gather and learn and would be a safe place for youth with limited options, officials said.