Centretown residents turn out in force to oppose LeBreton Flats central library

It was standing room only as 200 Centretown residents jammed CityHall council chambersWednesday evening to voice their opposition to the Ottawa Public Library's preferred location for anew central library.

The library wants to close itsoutdated main branch at MetcalfeStreet and LaurierAvenue,and build a new $168-millionfacility on the eastern edge of LeBreton Flats thatwould be shared with Library and Archives Canada.

Residents said that location wouldbe a farther walk fordowntown residents, especiallythose who live in shelters in the ByWardMarket area, and would be harder for people with mobility issues to accesssince it's located below the escarpment on the western edge of downtown.

LeBretonFlatsis slated for extensive redevelopment, including thousands of residential units to be built overthe next couple of decades,and the preferredlibrary site does fit the Ottawa Public Library'scriteria for being located near the new LRT line.

The land is also owned by the city, so work could proceed quicklywith an expected construction completion date of 2020.

Confederation Park site mentioned

But some people at the public meeting said they wantthe new facility to be located on National Capital Commission land in Confederation Park, next to City Hall.

"Ithink it's the ideal site and Idon't understand why that site wasn't considered to start with or if there is any reason why it can't be considered now," said JohnWesteinde, whoseson Jonathan is the founder of Windmill, the group heading theredevelopment oftheChaudireFalls areanext toLeBretonFlats.

Coun. Catherine McKenneyrepresents Somerset ward,where most Centretown residents live,and is also a member of the Ottawa Public Library Board.She organized the meeting and plans to take the concerns voiced at the meeting to the board.

"I can tell you from what Iheard tonight that people have a real appetite to have the central library located in the centre of the city and the core of the city," McKenney said.

Neither the library board chair, nor members of the library'smanagement teamattended the meeting. Some residents who turned out said they believethe board will rubber-stamp the library's preferred location at LeBreton Flats.

The Ottawa Public Library Board will vote on the LeBreton Flats site on Jan. 31. Ottawa City Councilis expected to make the final decision in a vote on Feb.8.