Ceremony marks start of construction for long-planned new central library in downtown Guelph

Construction on the new central library in downtown Guelph, which has been on the minds of city staff and councillors for more than 15 years, is set to officially get underway.

A groundbreaking ceremony took place Tuesday morning at the site of the former Baker Street parking lot with more than 100 people in attendance.

Guelph Public Library CEO Steven Kraft said this library has been at least 30 years of on-again, off-again planning so it was a "pinch yourself" moment to hold the groundbreaking ceremony.

"It's hard to believe this is actually happening but it is and it's an exciting day," he said after the ceremony.

WATCH: Local officials speak during groundbreaking ceremony for new Guelph library:

During the ceremony, Kraft held up a spade that was used by William Tytler to plant a tree at the library in March 1931. Tytler was an educator and headmaster at Guelph Collegiate Vocational Institute from 1875 to 1892 who also served as chairman of the Guelph Public Library board,

Kraft has previously said the city has outgrown the main library at the corner of Norfolk and Paisley streets, which was built in the 1960s.

"We're one of the busiest libraries in Ontario and that main library that we have now is just not the right size for a city that is growing as fast as Guelph is," he said, noting accessibility is a big concern.

Debate over cost 'behind us': Mayor

The location of a new central library was approved by city council in 2007. Since then, there have been a number of public meetings, staff reports and concept designs.

The site also had to be cleared. The parking lot was a former cemetery. There were human remains still under the parking lot, which were removed and interred in a special area at the city's Woodlawn Cemetery.

LISTEN | Remains of over 120 people found in Guelph's Baker Street parking lot through archaelogical dig:

The new Baker District will include the library, underground parking, public outdoor spaces and also private spaces.

The project has not been without controversy. Mostly, local politicians have cited the high cost of the project as a cause for concern.

Capital costs for Baker District are estimated to be between $84.2 million and $89.2 million, including up to $62 million for the library. 

A vote to approve the final design of the new library in October 2020 was passed by an 8-5 vote. Mayor Cam Guthrie voted against the library at the time.

During Tuesday's ceremony, Guthrie said "the debate of the cost of the library is behind us" and it's time to move forward with the project.

"It's cheaper to put a shovel in the ground today than it would be tomorrow, because these types of projects just escalate and escalate in costs over time," he said after the ceremony.

"It's a good thing for the community," Guthrie added.

"We're going to have underground parking here, we're going to have green space, community space, event space and the library and residential towers as well that are going to be coming here to this under-performing asset, which used to be a parking lot, and turning it into an asset for the entire community."

Tuesday's groundbreaking marks the start of a three-year construction project. It's anticipated the building will be completed by 2026.

Kraft said he and others stood on the spot of the new library Tuesday and tried to envision what would be there in a few years.

"Five years from now, it should be and it will be a very busy place," he said. "I'm looking forward to a very busy community hub."