I’ve had several people ask me for my
stance on this topic over the last few days, so I thought it was worth addressing
on my blog.
My understanding is that the conceptual proposals for the Baker Street parking lot at this point include residential units (from 110 to 300), open space,
underground parking, and a new library.
I think there is consensus that a surface
parking lot is an unfortunate use of prime downtown land. For this reason, I
support turning the Baker Street parking lot into something more.
I support the inclusion of residential
units in the redevelopment plan: I think there is consensus that increasing the
number of people residing in the downtown will increase foot traffic, thereby
benefiting downtown businesses and our city as a whole.
I support underground parking: as I
mentioned in an earlier post on my blog, the lack of parking in the downtown is
a disincentive to go there for a lot of people. Losing the Baker Street surface
parking lot would only make things worse if new parking spaces are not created
to offset the loss. If the hydrogeology allows it, underground parking is
definitely the way to go. Who likes to look at a bunch of parked cars? Who likes to leave their car baking in the sun?
Which brings us to the most controversial
component of the redevelopment plan: a new downtown library. I believe in
libraries. When I was a girl, my father used to take my sister and I to the
library every Saturday. Now that we are in 2014, my 14 year-old step-daughter
and my 10-month old son both enjoy going to the library, despite the Internet
age. People who can’t afford computers conduct job searches using library
computers. Libraries reduce waste: instead of subscribing to magazines and
newspapers that get thrown out after one use (not judging here: I do get my
Saturday Globe and Mail delivered at my door), they get re-read by multiple
people. Videos don’t need to be bought and thrown out; they can be borrowed.
Children’s books, which are expensive to buy and have short lifespans in
private households due to the fact that kids grow up so fast, remain available
for many families to enjoy year after year.
So I support libraries as an important
public service. But, as some residents have asked, do we really need a downtown
library when we already have so many neighbourhood libraries? The answer is
yes, because a downtown library is the downtown’s neighbourhood library! The
next closest library to the south is on Scottsdale, the next closest one to the
west is on Imperial, and the next closest one to the east is almost at Victoria.
So, in Ward 1 alone the downtown library is the neighbourhood library for
everyone living west of Metcalfe and everyone in St Patrick’s Ward.
At the end of the day, the concern people
have about a new downtown library is not the library per se, but the cost of
it. I hear you. I agree that we don’t need an extravagant venue. Furthermore, I
want to explore offsetting the capital costs with private sector money by, for
example, renting out commercial space within the building for a café (and shake
the perception that libraries are stale places while we’re at it). It sure
works for Chapters and Starbucks. And how about this novel idea: let’s offer a
babysitting service in the children’s department, so parents can go run errands
in the downtown. It’s a win for the library in the form of added revenue, a win
for downtown businesses, a win for the parents and a win for the kids.
Supporting a new downtown library is not a
simple yes or no answer because it all depends on what the plan will be. I will
only support a plan that is within our means. I commit to seeking your views on
the options and their cost in a meaningful manner.
