Moving Moncton library to former high school would cost $4.6M, report says

A long-awaited report estimates the plan to move the Moncton Public Library to the former high school will cost a $4.6 million. 

The report, which was commissioned by the city and prepared by architect Gordon Krausharr from Northland Design Studio Inc., was presented at Moncton council on Monday night.

MH Renaissance Inc. proposed moving the library to the building in an effort to repurpose it as a cultural centre.

Giovanni Corazza, a volunteer with the group, said he is happy with some components of the report, including the floor plan.

But he said the total costs are "too high."

MH Renaissance Inc. estimated the move would cost $2.12 million, which included $101,000 for a contingency fund.

If the group is given the opportunity to purchase the building, it plans to ask the city for $2.35 million, plus an additional $6 million from the province.

Money that doesn't need to be spent

But Diane Ross, chair of the Moncton Public Library board, said it's money that doesn't need to be spent.

"The financial implications of this are not small," she said.

Coun. Shawn Crossman confirmed with Catherine Dallaire, general manager of parks and leisure, culture and heritage with the city, that it would cost $18,000 to build a place to return books in the proposed library building.

Ross said city taxpayers do not need to spend $18,000 to build a new book drop.

She and the library board have been publicly against moving the library for more than a year. One of the major reasons being the layout of the 83-year-old building.

"Our staff is telling us we are going to reduce our seating by 35 per cent, the collection itself will have to be reduced and as a result the services will have to be reduced as well."

Corazza thinks the floor plan will work.

"Libraries should stick with what they are best at, books and knowledge, let us take care of the bricks and mortar," Corazza said.

Another proposal

The city supported another proposal for the heritage building by Terra Trust and Bird Construction, but the details behind that proposal remain private. 

Joe Tippett, a volunteer with MH Renaissance Inc., said what he knows of the the other plan isn't in the best interest of the city, calling it a land grab.

"Should we allow a local property, built by our ancestors to go to some group from Saskatchewan? I don't think so." Tippett said.

"I think we should be saving our property."

He said if the library vacates its place in the Blue Cross Centre, another business will move in, bringing hundreds of employees downtown, along with an increase of property taxes to the city. 

Council accepted the report, but what happens to the former Moncton High School is up to its owner, the province of New Brunswick.