A new library is being built in downtown Guelph, Ontario, after being planned for more than 15 years. Over 100 people gathered for a special event on Tuesday morning at the old Baker Street parking lot. Steven Kraft, the CEO of the Guelph Public Library, said they have been working on this library for over 30 years, so it was a very exciting moment. He said, “It’s hard to believe it’s finally happening, but it is a great day to see it officially begin.”
Kraft mentioned that the current library is too small for Guelph, which is a fast-growing city with lots of visitors. Accessibility is a big challenge there. Thus, the new in downtown Guelph will address this challenge. The city council approved the new library’s location in 2007. They had many meetings and made plans for it. Also they had to clear the area because it used to be a cemetery. They moved the buried remains to a different part of the city’s Woodlawn Cemetery.
The new library in downtown Guelph, Ontario, will be covering an area of 8,175 square meters. It will have an underground parking lot and a public space for everyone to enjoy. In the future, they also plan to add residential and commercial areas, but that will happen later.
Budget for the new library in downtown Guelph, Ontario, project
The city council approved a budget of $62 million for the new library in downtown Guelph, Ontario, project. They made some changes to the design of the parking garage to make sure they don’t spend more than the budget allows. It’s important to stick to the budget and not spend too much money.
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During the event on Tuesday, Guthrie a council member said they are done talking about the cost of the library and it’s time to move forward. He said, “It’s better to start building today because these projects get more expensive over time.” The construction of new library in downtown Guelph, Ontario, will take about three years, and they expect to finish the library by 2026. Kraft believes it will be a busy place in five years and serve as a community center.
