Centralizing library, services centre into Capreol millennium centre would cost $7.1M

The Capreol Millennium Centre on Meehan Street is a two-storey building that already has amenities such as a gym, classrooms, office space, dorms and a fitness centre. (Supplied)

A report headed to next week’s finance committee says that centralizing the library and citizen service centre into the Capreol Millennium Resource Centre would cost about $7.1 million.

A staff report on the plan for the May 19 meeting said that $4.6 million has already been approved for capital work at the buildings.

“Staff will present a business case as part of the 2027 budget to identify full capital and operational funding requirements and funding sources for the project,” the report said.

The resource centre on Meehan Street is a two-storey building that already has amenities such as a gym, classrooms, office space, dorms and a fitness centre.

Lots of vacant space

“With a significant amount of vacant space on the basement and main levels of the Capreol Millennium Resource Centre, the opportunity to consolidate services was identified,” the report said.

“Based on a preliminary assessment, it was determined there was merit in further exploring moving Capreol Public Library and Citizen Service Centre operations, along with existing facility user groups, to the Capreol Millennium Resource Centre.”

Several challenges were identified in a $40,000 feasibility study, including a lack of parking, the need for accessibility improvements and obstructed sightlines, among several others.

The money would be required to maintain the existing facility and to upgrade it to accommodate the expanded operation for five or 10 years. Interior renovations would cost about $1.4 million and service work (mechanical and electrical) another $2.7 million. A full breakdown of the estimate is available in the report.

In comparison, building a new, one-storey facility would cost at least $13.3 million, not including “replication of the CN bunkhouse area, demolition of existing buildings, land acquisition, site development costs, design and post-contract contingencies, professional fees, escalation and permit fees.”

There is also concern about the structural integrity of the resource centre, which was temporarily closed following March’s snowstorm because of concerns of the amount of snow on the roof.

Members of the committee aren’t being asked to make a decision on the proposal, only to add it to the list of business cases that will be decided during the 2027 budget process.