[Dmajackson]

New library on slow track
Former city hall staffer says turf war has hurt project that’s been talked about for 12 years
By MICHAEL LIGHTSTONE Staff Reporter
Sat. May 16 - 5:20 AM

This is a story you won’t find on a bookshelf containing such titles as Fast-tracked Municipal Projects.

The long, slow move toward building a proposed new public library in downtown Halifax is an example of petty ward politics clouding the big picture of municipal growth, says a downtown business advocate and former city hall staffer.

Bernie Smith, of the Spring Garden Area Business Association, said Friday a central library to replace the venerable main branch across from Halifax provincial court has been talked about for more than a decade.

He said his organization supports a new library, proposed for the corner of Spring Garden Road and Queen Street, but realizes such a project isn’t going to happen any time soon.

Indeed, it’s been discussed at Halifax city hall for about 12 years and the planned site for building is currently a well-used parking lot.

The proposed project’s price tag has climbed over the years — it’s now around $55 million — and that has a few regional councillors nervous.

Mr. Smith, a former finance director with the old city of Halifax, said while cost is a concern, it’s the little turf wars around the council chamber that are more disconcerting.

"People are taking narrow visions of their own particular area’s needs, and not taking a wider view of the collective needs of the sort of general good," he told The Chronicle Herald. "Everybody’s got their own vested interests."

Library system managers have been complaining for years about the condition of the main branch, which would probably need millions of dollars in upgrades should a new one not be built.

"The building can no longer support the library’s needs in terms of programming, technology, health and safety, security of the collections or universal access," the municipality’s website says.

The proposed replacement will be a multi-use centre that could include meeting rooms and a small theatre for community lectures and other events.

Mr. Smith said the library issue, which has sparked opposition from councillors representing districts outside peninsular Halifax, is a symptom of the general malaise of municipal politics in metro.

"The whole thing is becoming very much ward politics, rather than government of the whole entity," he said, referring to Halifax Regional Municipality. Mr. Smith said this is a large part of the reason the library project is proceeding at a snail’s pace.

Mayor Peter Kelly disagrees with Mr. Smith’s opinion. He said part of the delay has been finding the proper location. Mr. Kelly said council, in general, supports the proposed development, which he acknowledged has had "funding challenges."

The mayor couldn’t say when construction would start but is hopeful it might begin by late next year.

"We are progressing forward. We have clarified a lot of the issues at hand, but what we haven’t gotten to is a final design," said Mr. Kelly.

The city is moving ahead with pre-construction work. The draft 2009-10 gross operating budget includes $2 million for detailed design work, Mr. Kelly said.

Regional council is to debate the proposed $711.3-million budget, which was released Tuesday, later this month. The municipality’s draft capital budget is $151 million.

Budget talks are to be wrapped up by June 2.