Advocates are pushing to have one of the city’s landmark downtown buildings converted into a homeless shelter.

The Lawrence Coalition of Homeless Concerns is stepping up its campaign to have the city’s historic Carnegie Library, last used as the Lawrence Arts Center, turned into an abode for the needy.

The coalition’s chairman Wednesday called on City Manager Mike Wildgen to reiterate the group’s interest in the building, while other members this week said they were working on a letter-writing campaign to persuade the Lawrence City Commission.

“I really believe, if the commission thought the people were caring, they would give it to us,” said Mary Siegrist, a coalition member.

Coalition members earlier this month asked the commission to open the Carnegie as a temporary “open” shelter this winter for drinkers who are turned away from the city-subsidized Salvation Army shelter.

“I’m not quite there,” Commissioner Jim Henry said. “We’re putting money with the Salvation Army shelter, and they’re open.”

Henry said he wouldn’t be comfortable putting temporary tenants in the building while big-ticket repairs are pending. The city commission said earlier this month it was ready to spend $500,000 on “stabilization” repairs for the building, while the rest of the recommended $1.4 million in repairs will wait until a permanent tenant is found.

“The building’s not in shape for many uses, homeless shelter or otherwise,” Wildgen said.

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The coalition also has a long-term eye on the Carnegie. Hilda Enoch, the coalition chairwoman, said she’d be meeting next week with representatives from several agencies who might combine forces to offer shelter, substance abuse counseling and other services, if the Carnegie was available.

“If we had something that was comprehensive, that would make more sense than one group trying to meet all the needs by itself,” she said.

Commissioners have said they will soon formally request proposals for the Carnegie’s future use. Historical and cultural centers have also been proposed; commissioners have said they want the building to remain a public center.

“We’ll see if people have anything substantial to say how they’re going to pay for it,” Wildgen said.

The building at Ninth and Vermont streets has been mostly empty (it still is used for occasional events) since earlier this year, when the Arts Center vacated it for new digs in the 900 block of New Hampshire Street. Before that, it served as the city’s library from 1904 to 1972, reputedly the location where writer Langston Hughes read some of his first books. The building is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

The commission will discuss the Carnegie Library on Nov. 12 or 19.