City to tear down building next to library

The city will be tearing down the red-brick building next to the main branch of the Peterborough Public Library soon and replacing it with green space and parking.

Councillors made the decision at a meeting at City Hall on Monday night. Only one councillor wanted to delay the project – at least until budget time.

Coun. Dean Pappas said he was unhappy with the idea of setting aside $525,000 to redevelop the property next door to the library.

He said it was too close to budget time to pre-commit such a large sum of money.

Councillors start budget talks in November; a budget for next year is expected to be settled by mid-December.

“I just don’t like to pre-commit – especially this close to budget time,” he said.

The idea is to have the company that’s currently renovating and expanding the library tear down the building next door and convert it into parking and green space.

Demolition of the building is expected to cost $175,000; the plan is to take the money from a general property reserve.

That cost is not included in the $525,000 (that’s strictly the cost to redevelop the property).

Council bought the property next to the library last March, for $650,000, in order to create a larger property for the library.

The library is undergoing a $12-million renovation and expansion. Construction is supposed to continue for another year.

City treasurer Sandra Clancy said the $525,000 price from the construction company presumes they can get started soon.

If council defers its decision until the budget is finalized in December, then the firm is left to do the work in winter – when it’s bound to be more expensive.

Coun. Henry Clarke, the city’s budget chairman, said that pre-committing the money for this project is definitely going to take a bite out of the 2017 budget.

But he said it’s important that the project “move ahead promptly.”

“Let’s allow it to move forward now,” he said.

NOTE: See more city council coverage on Pages A2 and A5.