Library moves ahead

The new Mary J.L. Black library is going ahead with a few adjustments and a bigger price tag.

Originally intended to be built in the northwest corner of the West Thunder Community Centre parking lot, the new library will now be built further east to accommodate parking concerns from members of the community centre, project manager Ed Cameron told council Monday night.

Although community centre members had been opposed to the now 9,400-square foot facility being built on the site, Cameron said West Thunder, Thunder Bay Catholic District School Board and Thunder Bay Public Library have worked together to come up with a site plan that everyone is happy with.

By moving further east, Cameron said existing parking in the northwest corner can stay, which will benefit both buildings.

Temporary parking will be set-up between West Thunder and St. Martin Catholic Elementary School. There will be 133 parking spaces for the library and community centre, Cameron said.

"They’ve been well informed and actually participated in the final decision," Cameron said. "It’s a go."

Because of stimulus money from the federal government, the project has a deadline of March 31, 2011. Coun. Rebecca Johnson asked if the library can be built in such a tight timeline.
Cameron told council that tenders for the library go out in two weeks with a total timeline of 35 weeks for the project. Cameron added that should leave the new library built with two weeks to spare.

"We’re confident at this stage as long as everything goes in line with the dates we have set," Cameron said.

City manager Tim Commisso agreed.

"The sooner we can get going the better. It’s going to be tight," Commisso said. "The key is to really get going."

Commisso put forward a resolution, passed by city council Monday, to have city administration provide council with a report next month on the updated cost of the library.

Commisso said because site plans have changed, including the complete reconstruction of the West Thunder parking lot, the project is estimated to cost up to $600,000 more than the original $4.1 million.

Replacing playground equipment and bike paths would also increase the cost of construction, Commisso added.