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The following press release was issued by the City of Guelph on February 19, 2009
Guelph’s new central library will be the anchor at the north end of downtown. The concept
approved by City Council shows the new 90,000 square-foot building facing Wyndham St N and
backing on to Baker St. A new public open space and connecting street and are also proposed
to run along the south side of the building.
"I am delighted that after years of work and study, we are moving forward with a design concept
for our much-needed new central library. This design concept is the best choice for the library,
and the best choice for the revitalization of the north end of our downtown," says Mayor Karen Farbridge.
The City plans to purchase four buildings on Wyndham St N in order to make room for the new central
library, public open space, and public parking, and to redevelop the entire Baker St parking lot
to offer new private sector residential and commercial investment opportunities in the downtown
core. The City hopes to negotiate the purchase of the buildings before it will consider
expropriation measures.
The concept was endorsed by the Guelph Downtown Business Association which will work with City employees
to assist business owners and tenants who may be displaced by the redevelopment.
Ward 5 Councillor Lise Burcher, Chair of the Community Development and Environmental Services
Committee and member of the Downtown Guelph Business Association Board, said, "The design scenario
that Council supported provides tremendous benefits and opportunities beyond the library development
itself. It will allow us to realize components of our growth strategy and urban design action plan
through the restructuring of the Baker Street block and north Wyndham Street. We are setting the
stage for private sector investment with mixed use residential and commercial development."
"This concept for the Baker St site offers upwards of 20,000 square feet of commercial space,
mixed residential development a minimum of 400 public parking spaces," says Peter Cartwright,
Guelph’s Director of Economic Development and Tourism. "More details about the types of
housing and the distribution of parking spaces will become clearer as we develop our project
plan. The City wants to offer a mix of affordable rental housing, as well as condos and
live/work units. Outside of the private commercial and residential developments, the cost
of the library development is estimated at $55 million."
Under provincial legislation, and Guelph’s own growth management strategy, downtown is identified
as an area where the city needs to intensify development in order to accommodate more residents,
jobs, transportation and infrastructure. The Baker St site redevelopment is one of the most
significant projects the City has planned to add to meet Guelph’s growing population over
the next five to ten years.
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View presentation to Council
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Council approves concept for Baker Street development