On Wednesday, Council voted to accept the Library Board's recommendation to Council that the new central library be built at 557 Wellington – just east of the future Pimisi LRT station. I voted in favour of the Board recommendation.
That decision isn’t one that I made lightly. Public libraries are critical to the success of cities. I have expended some significant resources to have a productive conversation about the Rosemount branch of the Library because of the key contribution they make to our urban fabric.
The debate over the central library location has been ongoing for well over a year. I’ve been following the debate closely, and consider that there has been enough consultation, public feedback, outreach to my office and media discussion for me to feel comfortable with the Board’s recommendation.
I recognize that no site is perfect. The site selection process is fraught with compromises. There are considerations of cost, proximity to users, site size, and the practical nuts and bolts such as servicing. There are subjective decisions to be made at each step of the way.
