Moncton library proposed move goes before council

A proposal to relocate the Moncton Public Library into the former Moncton High School will be voted on by city council at its meeting this week.

The controversial proposal needs approvalfrom the city before the provincial governmentwill agree to sell the 80-year-old building to a group of developers.

• Moving Moncton Public Library to old Moncton High debated
• U-Haul makes pitch for former Moncton High building

MH Renaissance Inc. wantsto transform the former high schoolinto a cultural centre. Its proposal includes a public library to replace the one currently located downtown.

Monday's council meeting was postponed until Tuesday due to a snowstorm.

City council will meet in sessions at 10 a.m. and at 5 p.m., with the library vote scheduled in the 5 p.m. portion of the meeting.

Public opinion divided

Public opinion on the idea appears mixed.

John Staples supports the idea of moving the library and creating a cultural centre.

"Having that property repurposed as an arts and culture centre would give a complete rebirth to that entire area," Staples said.

Others, such asLee Thompson, think the library should stay where it is.

"I'm quite opposed having the library move," said Thompson.

Anything that's less than what we have now would be a very difficult sell.- Diane Ross, president MonctonPublic Library board

"I think it's in the perfect location right now. It's a very modern, up-to-date and full-of-light venue for the library right now."

Diane Ross, the library board president,voiced her concerns about the proposal earlier.

"The MonctonPublic Library is the crown jewel of the New Brunswick Public Library Services," she said.

"Other library staff come to Moncton to see the services and the space that's available there.

"Anything that's less than what we have now would be a very difficult sell."

If city council supports the proposal, it would then be up to the province to decide whether to sell the school tothe development group.

2 other proposals

The province has also been approached with proposalsby U-Haul Canada, as well as Saint John developers Nicole and Andreas Holmes.

U-Haul would like to use the space as a self-storage warehouse, while the Holmes's plan outlines a mix of cultural and commercial spaces.

Deputy Mayor Shawn Crossmansaid the Holmes's proposalwas only received by the council atnoonon Friday.

"This is a four- or five-page document outlining, I guess, their intent. There's no financial numbers, there's no layout or floor-plan," Crossman said.

"It's just a basic community commercial space letter of intent."

Crossman has been a vocal supporter of the MH Renaissance proposal and says of the three proposal received by the city, it was the most detailed because it had a business plan and tenants lined up.

"The U-Haul plan we have only seen once. That was last fall," he said.

"There was no financial plan, there was no layout."