Council approves LeBreton site for $168M central library

After three years of studies, reports, public consultations and board meetings, Ottawa city council has approved a location for a new $168-million central library at the city-owned land at 557 Wellington St., on the eastern edge of LeBreton Flats.

Only Somerset Coun. Catherine McKenney voted against the site Wednesday, arguing that moving the main downtown branch to LeBreton "will be the loss of a branch library in the densest part of the city...It will be a hole in the community."

Rideau-Rockcliffe Coun. TobiNussbaum abstained from the vote.

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Council approved a plan for a 216,000-square-foot complex that the Ottawa Public Library would share with the federal Library and Archives Canada, with 133,000 square feet going to the city library branch.

The super-library would cost $168 million to build a very rough estimate with the city paying $99 million and the federal government contributing the rest. That preliminary price tag doesn't include the costs of parking.

The federal government has not approved the partnership yet. If thedeal is green lighted, the schedule calls for groundbreaking in mid-2018, construction in 2020and an opening date in 2022.

Staff expect 5,000 visitors perday at the new library, compared to 2,000 at the current main branch.

Site too far from city core: critics

Many residents have voiced their opposition to 557 Wellington as a library location, which is bounded by Albert Street, Commissioner Street and the Confederation Line. It's about 250 metres away from the PimisiLRT station, currently under construction.

Critics have argued the site is too far from the traditional centre of the city, and that its location on the escarpment makes it more difficult to get to for people with mobility issues.

As well, many residents ofCentretownfear they will be left without a local branch.

At its Jan. 31 meeting, the library board directed staff to consider what could be done to serve those users once the main branch is moved, with a particular focus on the area's most vulnerable residents could be served.

Some have also criticized the process that led to Wednesday's decision.

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Although she voted for the library location, Coun. Diane Deans said she was "disappointed with the process," calling it "wonky."

'Let's not be the dither and dance council'

While the library board had a chance to hear from public delegations on the site selection issue, councillorsnot on the board weren't invited to sit at the table. So council, which has final authority on approving the site, was never able to question public delegates.

As well, Deans and council colleaguesJean Cloutier and Riley Brockington asked for a public meeting in thecommunity, but were told that library staff would not be available.

Coun. Rick Chiarelli, a formerlibrary board chair, acknowledged that the site might not be perfect, but said it's still a suitable locationfor a new central branch.

"We're in the positionto acceptsomethingthat looks pretty good," he said. "You've got a great opportunity in front of you that hitsabout every goal you have."

Cloutier echoed those comments, acknowledging "it's a lessconvenientlocationfor certain users of the library, but more convenient for other users Let's not wait another 10years, let'snot be the dither and dancecouncil."

Next steps

Council also directed Mayor Jim Watson and city manager Steve Kanellakos to start lobbying the provincial and federal governments. There is still no official plan to pay for the library, but it will include some long-term debt. A detailed financing plan is expected in June, which will include how much money the city can raise by eventually selling the site of the current main branch at Metcalfe Streetand LaurierAvenue.

And next month, the library board will deal with parking at the new library site. The library's master plan for a new central branchcalls for the possibility of an underground garage of up to two levels that holds a minimum of 170 parking spots.

There will also be more public consultation on the design of a new library. Previously, Watson said he was"not opposed" to an international design competition for a central branch.