Plans to renovate the downtown Carnegie library here, pegged at close to $6 million, will likely move ahead after considerable controversy, design fine-tuning and opposition over the size and cost of the project.
The Wellington County library board approved a redesign of the building plan at its meeting on March 13. The decision followed a public open house to view the reworked design with architect Paul Sapounzi of VG Architects and a presentation to the county information, heritage and seniors committee.
Though the meeting dealt only with approval of the redesign, Centre Wellington councillor Kelly Linton reiterated his personal opposition to the project, urging county councillors to “press the pause button.”
Linton said a personal survey he conducted found about 83 per cent of respondents opposed the plan.
Thomas Homer Dixon, a supporter of the plan, questioned the validity of the survey.
“I don’t think we have a clear sense of how the community falls on this issue,” he said of the controversy that has surrounded the plan. “On this issue I’m part of a substantial group of folks who support the project.”
He added, “I think we can feel a certain sense of excitement in the design which is going to be very dramatic.”
According to Sapounzi, the final design has integrated the heritage elements of the building and increased space for books and patrons to use the library.
“We have spent a lot of time doing a lot of little things that have amounted to big things in this project,” he said. “We’ve been working very hard from the heritage end to preserve the building.”
Elora resident Deryk Smith, a lawyer with the downtown firm of Wolfe Smith Forster and a library supporter, attended the public viewing and committee meeting.
In an interview with the Advertiser during the public viewing, Smith said the renovated library will support about 1,000 students living in close proximity along with residents. Smith also downplayed the cost.
“I’m prepared to pay my share of the taxes to fund it,” he said. “They’re going to restore the building to its former glory.”
Smith was part of a committee of council involved in a review of the downtown by the BIA about 10 years ago. He said at that time parking was a concern, similar to concerns that the library expansion will remove parking spaces – but the study concluded there was ample parking.
Sapounzi said the exterior of the library will see bricks covering basement windows at the front removed to restore the building to its original appearance. The building will also be fully accessible at the front and side entrance and contain accessible washrooms and an elevator. The glassed-in addition at the rear will not be visible from the front of the original building to preserve the building’s heritage look, the architect added.
People using the front entrance will go through the Carnegie part of the library which, according to Sapounzi will have a “museum feel.”
“We want to create a room that has some dignity,” he said of the front section of the library. “It’s going to have slightly different furniture that pays some homage to the original Carnegie place.”
The main floor will also have washrooms, the main library desk and, at the rear, books and seating areas and a lounge area.
The second floor design is similar to the first, but is expected to house paperbacks and fiction books. There will also be a computer area and exit to a balcony where patrons can take reading materials outdoors overlooking the river.
The third floor will house administration and staff and a public meeting room, which Sapounzi said is suitable for community groups to use.
Concern about the loss of parking spaces was raised by board member and county councillor Lou Maieron, who was told library staff would be parking across the street at the county social services building, opening up parking spaces closer to the library. There are 25 parking space at the social services building.
Board member and county councillor Jean Innes suggested the library could integrate its services with downtown events that close off St. Andrew Street at times throughout the year.
The redesign, expected to be approved by county council later this month, will lead to tendering of the project. Sapounzi said work is expected to start by July.
See related photo on page 35.
