Further delays in starting construction on Powell River’s new library are having an impact on Powell River Public Library’s ability to fundraise for its contribution to the new location, according to chief librarian Terry Noreault.
Noreault said a standstill in construction is causing the public to question whether the project will even proceed. That doubt undercuts the library’s ability to raise the required $1.4 million contribution toward the building’s $4.9 million purchase, he said.
“We have some people asking if this is really going to happen,” said Noreault. “It’s taken us a long time to get here, so I understand why some people are starting to question it. After waiting 30 years for an approved proposal, two years later we’re still trying to figure out what we need to do to make the building useful for the library.”
City of Powell River director of planning Thomas Knight previously said a building permit would be issued to contractor Futurevest Investment Corporation on August 30 if all items required before his department could issue a building permit were addressed. Now City of Powell River director of infrastructure Tor Birtig said he expects the permits will be issued by Friday, September 16.
“We’re definitely a lot closer,” said Birtig. The city is still waiting for some information on the building’s fire-resistance rating and updated architectural drawings, he said.
Originally, the library was set to open between mid-August and October, said Noreault. The construction has been estimated to take up to six months once the permits are issued.
Unforeseen delays have caused some unexpected results, said Noreault.
Powell River Friends of the Library donated $50,000 toward new book acquisition, which has already begun. With no room at its current location to store or shelve the new books, the library has had to devise a contingency plan and rent some vacant storefront space to make the books available for lending until the new library is completed, said Noreault.
“We bought about 2,000 books and they were selected to be ready for the first opening date of August 15,” he said.
Last spring, the library also began ordering custom furniture for its new space. The furniture is expected to arrive by the end of October or early November and will require about 1,500 square feet of storage space until it can be moved into its new home.
The city does not currently have any space large enough to store the furniture, so a non-city owned location had to be found. The city looked at Dwight Hall for storage, but that did not work, said Noreault.
“The city does not have any place appropriate for what we have,” he said.
While Noreault and his staff sort through problems caused by the stalled project, Futurevest co-owner Michele Sauve said she is telling people the new library is still moving forward.
“I’m trying to be the optimistic one and tell people it’s coming,” said Sauve. “It’s in the city’s hands; it’s their building.”
Echoing statements he made at the end of August, mayor Dave Formosa said he still thinks the city is almost at the point where it can issue a building permit.
“Talking to both sides, I’m not hearing anymore that we’re not going to get there,” he said.
Formosa said a lot of the delay has been caused by disagreements over the need for building-code reviews. He said he is aware that the slow progress has created problems.
“It’s been frustrating,” he said, “but this happens when you take an old building and try to create a new building out of it.”
