City council will not move forward with a centralized library at Inter-city Shopping Centre.
Councillors voted against the move, as they are not prepared to pay for a library in a leased space as the costs may become too high.
Operating and updating the library’s current branches will be cheaper than building a central one.
Last week, staff advised council to not build a new library and stick to the status quo option outlined in the 2024 Master Facilities Plan for the library.
If the Inter-city location had been approved, the city would need to pay $8.5 million in construction costs, while the Waverly and Mary JL Black branches would remain standing. The Brodie and County Park branches would have been closed.
City Manager, John Collin, argued in the meeting that there are too many hidden costs not mentioned in the facilities plan.
“We will see a rent cost during this ten-year lease up to $19 million, depending how long this lease goes for,” said Collin. “We will also see interest payments on the debt of $5.5 million.”
The construction alone was estimated to cost nearly $17 million.
Councillor Brian Hamilton added that the project is important to the city and may have potential in the future.
“I think the plan is actually quite a good one and a missed opportunity,” said Hamilton. “However, if council decides to move forward with the centralized library at that cost, there would be major implications downstream. I see it as an important move forward, but not possible or achievable right now.”
Without the new centralized library, the four existing branches across the city will be gradually renovated to improve accessibility and functionality.
