Library entrance upgrade
Conceptual image of proposed new entrance for P.G. Public Library.. round feature on the left of diagram is rotunda of Civic Cente – image courtesy City of Prince George.
Prince George, B.C.- It is an expensive plan, one the City of Prince George doesn’t have the funds to carry out right now, but there is no doubt the Prince George Public Library needs a new entrance.
The existing entrance in the parkade poses a safety risk as it opens directly into the path of traffic, and the steps leading from either the Civic Centre rotunda or the Plaza, pose significant accessibility challenges.
The proposal shown in the diagram above, would see some additional space added for programs and add an elevator from the Plaza level. The cost of that upgrade is $3.9 million dollars.
In a report to Council, staff note the Library is already slated for several capital upgrade projects worth $1.27 million and a further assessment of the building has identified some other needed repairs that will cost another $245 thousand.
The City’s application for a half million dollar grant from the Community Infrastructure Program was not approved.
So while the City doesn’t have the money for the new entrance, it says there is still some money left from the 2015 budget to “further develop the Library entrance improvements design concept”.
The only way the City could cover the cost of the upgrade is by borrowing the $3.9 million, or, revise the design to leave out the extra space for programs, and put the focus on improving accessibility and safety.
Comments
A couple of pieces of concrete in the parkade and the safety issue is eliminated.
Just another clueless council, spending out money like a drunk lottery winner.
Maybe we should deal with that boarded up concrete eye sore next door first.
Please, City Council… will you send this proposal back to the drawing board! There must be a more fiscally viable solution. While the library is an important civic facility, 3.9 million is a steep pricetag for an entranceway and a couple of modifications. First off, an elevator is not needed. A nicely designed covered ramp system would suffice to replace the stairs. Secondly, the parkade area could be better laid out to facilitate the safety issue with downstairs entrance. Who knows what will happen inregards to the unfinished hotel developement next door? Maybe some of that property could be better used for additional parking so that they could make room in the parkade for safer access? The price for this project seems awful steep.
“Just another clueless council, spending out money like a drunk lottery winner. ”
This way of thinking is exactly why PG isn’t a very pretty city. Everything was built as just functional. Anything older than a decade looks like it belongs in Russia.
I’m in support of this change – and I’ve loved the new construction we’ve seen all around PG. Much more creativity put into building now.
There are actually 3 variations. This is the most expensive one. There is one for $1.5 million which puts an elevator next to the existing rotunda that links the Civic Centre and the Library. That was actually a solution to provide elevator access to the library when that and the canopy were built.
The $1.5 million would see a widening of the existing walkway from the rotunda to the Library. To go really cheap, they could not expand it to the full width of the deck.
This will be the third attempt to fix what they cut out of the original design for some reason I do not remember. It may have simply been a cost saving at the time. The exterior stairs were next, then the rotunda, and now this.
Perhaps this one will get it right. With the track record of this, I doubt it.
I support the change as well, However I don’t like the price tag. It’s too bad the grant money couldn’t help a library out!
Perhaps the city could explore a partnership and multi-purpose facility. For example, if the hotel had actually been built next door they could have made it necessary that the hotel develope a corridor connecting to the Library and therefore fixing the entrance issue at the same time.
Perhaps the plan could be expanded to include commercial space or housing, something that whould have the potential to generate funds. Starbucks seems to love being located near Chapter’s in larger cities. Maybe they would feel the same about a Library. Even the district municipality of Chetynd has a cafe attached to the Library.
maybe now is not the right time, but change needs to happen…
With the latest craze on name changing maybe there is a developer or business who could take on the project and have the library in their name…
A fine example of why things should be done right the first time!
Who knows how much this work would have cost if it had been properly considered and included in the original plans for the library? Makes one wonder who was involved in that design and process? Perhaps this should be considered so that those people, that design firm, those administrators and council, etc are never considered for future designs, work, projects, etc!
The city shouldn’t start spending millions on this improvement yet. If the city was growing, they would be looking at building a brand new building in a different location. The current library is a bunker-style eyesore, the worst of 1970’s architecture.
The library should consider swapping buildings with the RCMP. The library could use the RCMP holding tanks to house people who have delinquent late fees.
The library building is 35 years old. According to gopg2015 the lifespan
of buildings in Prince George is about 40 years. So why fix up this building if you have to tear it down in 5 years. OOOOOOR perhaps the life span of buildings in Prince George far exceeds 40 years, and we should do the proper maintenance to the Library, Swimming Pool, Firehall, City Hall, etc; and leave well enough alone.
Borrowing $4 Million for these upgrades is not a very bright idea. The interest costs alone over 10/20 years would be huge.
We need to find the money for upgrades somewhere else. Perhaps the sale of land.
Visualize what 4 million dollars can buy: 9 or 10 brand new nice family homes including the lots they sit on. How can an entrance update to an existing facility cost as much money? Something does not add up when put under the scrutiny of reality and common sense.
I’m confused about the elevator. There’s already an elevator in the rotunda. It’s right there. I used it all the time when I was on foot with my stroller. That’s a huge chunk of change to put an elevator a handful of meters away.
I’m one of those folks who spends a heck of a lot of time at PGPL. We have an awesome library, with a butt-ugly building. I have faith that our City Council is turning over every rock to find a sustainable way to make the entrance more attractive, safe, and accessible. Fixing this eyesore will be another important step in making our downtown the great place it should be.
I’m a huge user of the library to and while I agree it’s unattractive, I don’t see the need for a third elevator. Surely we can pretty up the front for less than 4 million. Heck, that’s ten percent of a PAC. :P
The library is very nice inside. The outside is dated, like my house used to be. Then we spent money on removing the faded aluminum siding, installing the proper insulation panels and replacing all the windows and the front door. It cost a few thousand bucks but it made the house more modern looking, warmer and much more quiet.
The outside of the library building can be improved in may ways with paint and panels which are attached to the present façade and within a reasonable budget. The story about buildings in PG lasting only 40 years max is malarkey. Taxpayers are too docile and do question some of the needless expenses approved by those who do not have to pay the bill, in other words spending other peoples’ money. Even the Roller Dome which goes all the way back to the forties can have a modern makeover of the exterior as long as the foundation and superstructure are sound. We are a wasteful society!
How about we charge library card holders $100 per year with a yearly max of $300 per family?
Hartly. Sounds like a good idea. This could work much the same way that they want bussing to work. To make it even better we could make being a card holder mandatory for City Managers and staff.
Definitely need a new entrance, it is very dangerous for the drunks and homeless who occupy the library and harass legitimate users.
Yeah….got to make it nice for the drunks and homeless…….
There will be a new Marriott hotel next door to the library, some of the work has already been tendered, in fact I think some on site work has begun.
As for the entrance in question: the option depicted in the artist’s concept looks quite nice, but they say we can’t afford it, so what else can be done?
In my view, the main problem is with snow and ice on the stairs. Why not have an architect design a nice roof structure that will keep most precipitation off the stairs?
As for elevators, whats wrong with the two that are already there?
metalman.
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