In our Feb. 4 editorial we discussed the possible move of the aging Colchester-East Hants Public Library in Truro from its present location on Prince Street to the huge warehouse which once housed the 'Old Hat Factory' and, later, a bowling alley on the corner of Prince and Court streets.
We felt the idea had plenty of merit but before rendering a final opinion we wanted to see an artist's rendition of the warehouse-turned-library and discover what it would cost to lease the space.
Now we know and there is plenty to like about the proposal submitted to Truro Town Council by The Snook Group, owners of the warehouse and surrounding property.
For starters, there would be more than 34,000 square feet of space available for the library and its regional headquarters, compared to the 16,000 square feet at the current 42-year-old location.
In addition, there would be a fully accessible covered main entrance on Prince Street, a two-story atrium exterior wall creating a spacious atmosphere and allowing ample natural light, a central control desk, a cafe and community room, plenty of parking, an outdoor green space and more.
In a nutshell, The Snook Group's extensive renovation job would completely transform one of the town's more shabbier looking locations into a symbol of community pride.
But it could cost taxpayers about $800,000 a year if the town enters into a 20-year lease. And that doesn't include the cost of furnishing the new facility.
Of course, there are alternatives. The town could continue to cover the current library with Band-Aids, a scenario we would consider incredibly shortsighted. It might also consider building a new library, the cost of which has been estimated at somewhere between $9 million and $13 million.
Or it could continue to negotiate with The Snook Group in an effort to bring the renovation costs down to a slightly more digestible level. Any assistance the town can get from a national P3 program would go along way to advancing the project.
We hope an agreement can be reached sooner rather than later because we believe this new library scenario offers an excellent investment in Truro's downtown and the community at large.
