Library checks out alternatives
City isn't supportive of blocking 23rd Street, says library director
Janet French and Mark Ferguson, The StarPhoenix
Published: Monday, January 28, 2008
The Saskatoon Public Library board will rethink its options for a bigger downtown branch -- after a city official said closing down a block of 23rd Street won't happen.
On Sunday, director of libraries Zenon Zuzak said city manager Phil Richards told him last week council won't get behind the library's proposal to expand its central branch building onto 23rd Street between Third and Fourth avenues.
"But, council is prepared to look for other options for us to stay on that location," Zuzak said.
The Frances Morrison branch is desperate for space and needs to double its size from about 78,000 to 150,000 square feet, Zuzak said. When the branch was built in 1966, Saskatoon had half the population.
The library board had hoped to commission a feasibility study to determine the impact closing the street would have on traffic and parking. At a closed council meeting earlier this month, the library asked council's executive committee for its support. At two open houses last fall, public support for a feasibility study was high, Zuzak said.
"Council basically came back and said there won't be a street closure," Zuzak said.
Although the library won't decide its next move until the board meets on Feb. 20, Zuzak said the proposal to expand onto the street is likely off the table without the city's support.
"I don't see how we could look at it more," he said.
However, Zuzak's comments puzzled several councillors, who said they have taken no official vote to rule out closing 23rd Street to accommodate a larger library. Coun. Charlie Clark said several councillors voiced concerns about shutting the street.
"That's the definite flavour of what they've said," he said.
However, he believes the library should do a feasibility study, looking at all options for expanding the branch on its existing site, including the possibility of blocking traffic.
"I don't feel like I have enough information to say yes or no to (closing the street)," he said.
Coun. Tiffany Paulsen said the topic hasn't come up since the library presented its proposal to the executive committee.
"There was no 'You cannot' or, 'You will not,' " she said. "It was, 'We need to investigate all of the possibilities.' "
However, she adds, "Given some of the concerns given by many of the councillors about shutting own 23rd, I can see how they'd get that impression."
City manager Richards could not be reached for comment Sunday.
The Partnership, the downtown business improvement district, has been lobbying council to nix the street closure proposal.
"We are very much in favour that the main branch of the library should be downtown," executive director Terry Scaddan said.
"But we'd like to see something innovative . . . closing down a street doesn't speak to innovation."
A feasibility study would not change The Partnership's position, Scaddan said, calling the result of closing an adjacent block of 23rd Street for the bus mall, "not pretty."
Saskatoon Mayor Don Atchison agrees 23rd Street in front of city hall should stay open. "We need to utilize the space we have better."
Zuzak isn't sure what other options the library would have to double its size in its current location without expanding onto 23rd Street.
The existing building could add another floor, but that would add 24,000 square feet at most -- that's a third of what it needs.
Extending the library over 23rd Street is another possibility the library could suggest to designers.
These architects, they can come up with all sorts of spatial relations buildings," he said.
Zuzak said he's not discouraged about the vetoed street closure.
"I try to look at the positive," he said.
Three years ago, some civic leaders were skeptical about the library's need for more space, and now "everyone's working together to do what it takes to get there," he said.
"I think now everyone's aware of the situation and the need to expand or build a larger facility for the central library," Zuzak said.
i agree that 23rd street shouldn't be blocked. Just an idea but what if they moved to the warehouse district. it would make that area of the downtown more busy and they could move to a ware house to give a neat effect.
Terry Scaddan said.
"But we'd like to see something innovative . . . closing down a street doesn't speak to innovation."
mabey they could move to a buildign like the John Deere warehouse. i believe it is arouund 5 floors so it would easily be large enough. They could build a glass roof like in the bay condos to make it innovative and there is lots of room to expand in the future. The city council pretty much destroyed anychance of them staying there. they cant build up and they cant spread out.
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