Changes are in store for the parking lot surrounding the site of the new Powell River Public Library at Crossroads Village, and not just for drivers who are used to entering from Alberni Street.
According to City of Powell River staff, the upcoming library building redevelopment will include an exterior courtyard and public green space. The lane that currently runs in front of the new library location and allows through traffic will be blocked off.
Chief librarian Terry Noreault said the decision was made primarily due to safety concerns for children and the elderly who use the library.
“That’ll give a nice little area, a place for plants and a deck,” said Noreault. “It will provide a little community space.”
The area in question is about about 10 metres by 100 metres, but mayor Dave Formosa said he would like to see it larger and more park-like. He said the city has the opportunity to create a building with public art outside that gives people “the feeling that you’re coming to a library and you’re not in a parking lot or a mall.”
“It would add so much,” said Formosa at a city council meeting on Thursday, March 17. “It’ll probably be another $100,000, but in the scope of things, it would be so huge.”
Formosa said he recognized the value of parking, but thought there might be the possibility to expand the city’s area. Access to the gas station on the corner from Alberni Street will still be in place, but will be limited to only traffic for the station.
City council voted to support issuing development permit 184 for the upgrade of the new library’s exterior façade at its regular meeting on March 17.
Thomas Knight, city director of planning, spoke to the development permit application and told council that he liked Formosa’s vision, but the problem is the city does not own the parking lot beyond the extent of the lane.
According to Noreault, it is becoming increasingly more common for libraries to be built into malls, which provides the public with increased access to library services.
Noreault said he liked the idea of including public art in the facility and that he has already been approached by local artists who have proposals, but he said that it would have to come as the result of its own fundraising.
The development permit allows contractors to move forward and start work on transforming the building’s outside toward its West Coast-style design with rock and timber and begin the process of landscaping.
“It’s actually very good news that the actual construction of the library is moving forward,” stated councillor Rob Southcott at the meeting. “There’s a real sense that we’re moving towards something that is really lovely.”
