LEAD - Bill Mason, with Bob and Dave Winter (a father-and-son construction company), has a dream that they say can benefit Lead's Phoebe Apperson Hearst Library as well as the Lead community.

The trio, plus Lead City Administrator Mike Stahl, shared the dream plan with Lead citizens at a recent meeting in the library.

Mason's group plans to build a three-story complex on a site in Lead bounded by Highway 14A and Baltimore and Main streets. They've offered the lower floor containing 10,740 square feet for the library, which would be level with a renewed Fairview Street. It would face the city center from above the Fuller residence.

The plan includes a middle floor at Highway 14A level (across from the Homestake Mansion) with commercial space. A third story would offer private condominiums or professional office spaces.

All three levels each would have ample parking spaces and access from at least two entrances. The old library building, part of the Historic Homestake Opera House complex, figures in other plans, which have not been made public.

Mason, with Bill Laskowski's Dakota Gold Realty, is helping to locate the three Fairview residents whose homes will be removed before construction begins. The new library would sit in those spaces.

The preliminary plans are on display at the Lead Library. LeeAnn Paananen, librarian, told those at the meeting that the state library is assisting with plans, ideas and referrals of library architects.

Grant requests are also being prepared as well as a request to the Hearst Foundation. More ideas and plans will be publicized as they are made final.

The immediate Mason/Winter plan, upon approval of the city and other entities, is to build retaining walls to support the entire structure. If work can begin before winter, residents could see the project progressing as 2008 begins.