Chief librarian Margaret Sedgwick is hoping a committee to pursue the demolition of old Fort Frances High School on First Street East, and build a new public library there, will get the go-ahead following a presentation to council Monday evening.
“We realize this is a huge undertaking, but this town has a reputation for making dreams come true,” Sedgwick said before outlining the history of the library’s ever-increasing need for more space.
This need was first confirmed following a feasibility report by John Stephenson, of the Thunder Bay-based architectural firm of Kuch, Stephenson, Gibson and Malo, conducted last fall and presented at an open house last month.
At that time, he unveiled two possible plans—one for a renovated version of the current library and the other for a new building—to garner public input.
The first concept was an expanded version of the library at its current site, which would include an addition spanning 70 feet out from the rear of the east half of the building (which originally was built in 1898).
It also would feature changes like improved access, an elevator, and moving the children’s department to the upper level and the adult section downstairs.
The cost was pegged at roughly $2,495,610.
But the second idea—a new single-storey library building—proved to be much more popular as concerns were raised about how long the library would have to be closed (eight months to a year) if renovation and expansion was chosen.
The new building would be based on an “open” concept, with library staff working from one location in the centre of the building, and surrounded by the adult non-fiction, fiction, and children’s departments (as well as reading and study areas, a nursery school, and a multi-purpose room, among other features).
Its price tag was estimated at $3,253,600.
While the pros and cons of five possible sites eyed for a new library—including behind the Fort Frances Courthouse, at Alexander MacKenzie School, at Sixth Street School, and near the Memorial Sports Centre—were weighed, ultimately the old Fort High property was picked as the best, said Sedgwick.
Not only would the centrally-located property be large enough for a new library and parking lot, it likely would only take up between one-third and one-half the total property.
The committee proposed by Sedgwick would include library board members, “Friends of the Library” members, and town managers and administration working work together to acquire funding to both demolish the current building (possibly a $1-million project) and build a new one.
“It’s an opportunity to make something special,” Sedgwick said to council, which had only a few questions regarding the desirability of the location and the public’s response to word of a possible new library since the March 6 meeting.
The proposal to form a committee then was referred to Community Services executive committee for a recommendation.
“Hopefully, if everything goes on schedule, we’ll get going this summer,” Sedgwick said yesterday afternoon, adding she would like to see the committee in action as soon as possible.
As noted elsewhere in today’s Times, the old Fort High property also is being eyed by Stratton Equipment Sales and Service Ltd. This matter was referred to Economic Development Officer Geoff Gillon and Fort Frances CAO Bill Naturkach for a recommendation.
But Sedgwick said she wasn’t disheartened by the competition. “We can’t give up. No decisions have been made yet,” she stressed.
Naturkach noted that while the two projects are being considered, it can’t be considered a competition at this point in time, with the town having to consider each project as distinct avenues.
“On one hand, we have a private-sector player and that’s good. But at the same time, another set of players came along with their own ideas,” he remarked.
“We’ll just have to wait and see what happens.”
Fort Frances Times
Local News from Across the Rainy River District
