3. NEW CENTRAL LIBRARY SITE

NOUVELLE BIBLIOTHÈQUE CENTRAL - EMPLACEMENT

COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATIONS

That Council:

1. Approve the entire city block, bounded by Lyon, Albert, Bay and Slater as the recommended site for the location of the new central library;

2. Establish a 2009 capital funding authority in the amount of $26 million for the new central library project as outlined in the Financial Implications section of this report;

3. Subject to approval of Recommendations 1 and 2, authorize and direct the Real Estate Partnerships and Development Office to:

a) Obtain all necessary appraisals and surveys of the properties known municipally as 388, 400, 408, 414 Albert Street and 156-160 Lyon Street (the “Lands”), shown as Parcels “A” to “E” on Document “1” attached and described as follows:

· Parcel “A”: 156 - 160 Lyon Street north - PIN 041140009, 041140010 - Part Lot 16 and Lot 17, Plan 3922 south side of Albert Street, owned by Benjamin Feinstein;

· Parcel “B”: 388 Albert Street - PIN 041140011, 041140012 - part lot l6, south side of Albert Street, Plan 3922, owned by Irene and Bruno Kaczmarek;

· Parcel “C”: 400 Albert Street - PIN 04114008 - Part lots 14, 15 South side of Albert Street and Lots 12, 13, 14, 15,16, 17 north side of Slater Street, Plan 3922 except part 2, 4R-10209, owned by The Civil Service Co-operative Credit Society Limited;

· Parcel “D”: 408 Albert Street - PIN 041140366 - Lot 13 south side of Albert Street, Plan 3922, owned by 1470475 Ontario Inc.; and

· Parcel “E”: 414 Albert Street - PIN 041140365 - Lot 12 south side of Albert Street, Plan 3922, owned by 1470475 Ontario Inc;

b) Acquire the Lands by negotiation and agreement; and

c) Report back to Committee and Council prior to finalizing and executing all documents and agreements arising from the acquisition of the Lands; and

4. Deem the notice given of the budget amendment in the 12 June 2009 editions of the Ottawa Citizen and Le Droit to comply with the Notice By-law.

RecommandationS du Comité

Que le Conseil :

1. approuve l’intégralité de l’îlot ceinturé par Lyon, Albert, Bay et Slater comme emplacement de la nouvelle bibliothèque centrale;

2. établisse une instance de financement d’immobilisation pour 2009, d’un montant de 26 millions de dollars pour le projet de bibliothèque centrale, tel que souligné à la section sur les répercussions financières du présent rapport.;

3. Sous réserve de l’approbation des recommandations 1 et 2, charge le bureau de Partenariats et développement en immobilier de :

a) Obtenir l’ensemble des évaluations et des levés nécessaires visant les propriétés situées aux 388, 400, 408 et 414, rue Albert, et aux 156-160, rue Lyon (les « terrains »), illustrées en tant que parcelles A à E sur le Document 1 ci-joint, et décrites ainsi :

· Parcelle A : 156 – 160, rue Lyon nord - NIP 041140009, 041140010 – partie du lot 16 et lot 17, Plan 3922, côté sud de la rue Albert, appartenant à Benjamin Feinstein;

· Parcelle B : 388, rue Albert - NIP 041140011, 041140012 - partie du lot l6, côté sud de la rue Albert, plan 3922, appartenant à Irene et Bruno Kaczmarek;

· Parcelle C : 400, rue Albert - NIP 04114008 - partie des lots 14, 15, côté sud de la rue Albert, lots 12, 13, 14, 15,16, 17, côté nord de la rue Slater, plan 3922, sauf la partie 2, 4R-10209, appartenant à The Civil Service Co-operative Credit Society Limited;

· Parcelle D : 408, rue Albert - NIP 041140366 - lot 13, côté sud de la rue Albert, plan 3922, appartenant à 1470475 Ontario Inc.; et

· Parcelle E : 414, rue Albert - NIP 041140365 - lot 12, côté sud de la rue Albert, plan 3922, appartenant à 1470475 Ontario Inc;

b) Acquérir les terrains par négociation et entente; et

c) Rendre compte au Comité et au Conseil avant de finaliser et d’exécuter l’ensemble des documents et des ententes découlant de l’acquisition des terrains; et

4. Juge l’avis donné sur la modification au budget dans les éditions du 12 juin 2009 du Ottawa Citizen et du Droit conforme au Règlement sur l’affichage public

DOCUMENTATION

1. City Treasurer’s report dated 9 June 2009 (ACS2008-CMR-OCM-0005)

.
Report to/Rapport au:

Corporate Services and Economic Development Committee

Comité des services organisationnels et du développement économique

and Council / et au Conseil

9 June 2009 / le 9 juin 2009

Submitted by/Soumis par :

Ottawa Public Library Board/

Conseil d’administration de la Bibliothèque publique d’Ottawa

and

Kent Kirkpatrick, City Manager/Directeur des services municipaux

Contact Person/Personne ressource :

Barbara Clubb, City Librarian and CEO/Bibliothécaire municipale et directrice générale

Ottawa Public Library/Bibliothèque publique d’Ottawa

(613) 580-2424 x, 32180, barbara.clubb@ottawa.ca

and

Kent Kirkpatrick, City Manager/Directeur des services municipaux

(613) 580-2424 x 25657, kent.kirkpatrick@ottawa.ca

City Wide/à l'échelle de la Ville

Ref N°: ACS2009-CMR-OCM-0005

SUBJECT:	NEW CENTRAL LIBRARY SITE

OBJET :	NOUVELLE BIBLIOTHEQUE CENTRAL - EMPLACEMENT

REPORT RECOMMENDATIONS

That the Corporate Services and Economic Development Committee recommend Council:

1. Approve the entire city block, bounded by Lyon, Albert, Bay and Slater as the recommended site for the location of the new central library;

2. Establish a 2009 capital funding authority in the amount of $26 million for the new central library project as outlined in the Financial Implications section of this report;

3. Subject to approval of Recommendations 1 and 2, authorize and direct the Real Estate Partnerships and Development Office to:

· Parcel “A”: 156 - 160 Lyon Street north - PIN 041140009, 041140010 - Part Lot 16 and Lot 17, Plan 3922 south side of Albert Street, owned by Benjamin Feinstein;

· Parcel “B”: 388 Albert Street - PIN 041140011, 041140012 - part lot l6, south side of Albert Street, Plan 3922, owned by Irene and Bruno Kaczmarek;

· Parcel “D”: 408 Albert Street - PIN 041140366 - Lot 13 south side of Albert Street, Plan 3922, owned by 1470475 Ontario Inc.; and

· Parcel “E”: 414 Albert Street - PIN 041140365 - Lot 12 south side of Albert Street, Plan 3922, owned by 1470475 Ontario Inc;

a) Acquire the Lands by negotiation and agreement; and

b) Report back to Committee and Council prior to finalizing and executing all documents and agreements arising from the acquisition of the Lands; and

4. Deem the notice given of the budget amendment in the 12 June 2009 editions of the Ottawa Citizen and Le Droit to comply with the Notice By-law.

RECOMMANDATIONS DU RAPPORT

Que le Comité des services organisationnels et du développement économique recommande au Conseil :

1. D’approuver l’intégralité de l’îlot ceinturé par Lyon, Albert, Bay et Slater comme emplacement de la nouvelle bibliothèque centrale;

2. D’établir une instance de financement d’immobilisation pour 2009, d’un montant de 26 millions de dollars pour le projet de bibliothèque centrale, tel que souligné à la section sur les répercussions financières du présent rapport.;

3. Sous réserve de l’approbation des recommandations 1 et 2, charger le bureau de Partenariats et développement en immobilier de :

· Parcelle A : 156 – 160, rue Lyon nord - NIP 041140009, 041140010 – partie du lot 16 et lot 17, Plan 3922, côté sud de la rue Albert, appartenant à Benjamin Feinstein;

· Parcelle B : 388, rue Albert - NIP 041140011, 041140012 - partie du lot l6, côté sud de la rue Albert, plan 3922, appartenant à Irene et Bruno Kaczmarek;

· Parcelle D : 408, rue Albert - NIP 041140366 - lot 13, côté sud de la rue Albert, plan 3922, appartenant à 1470475 Ontario Inc.; et

· Parcelle E : 414, rue Albert - NIP 041140365 - lot 12, côté sud de la rue Albert, plan 3922, appartenant à 1470475 Ontario Inc;

a) Acquérir les terrains par négociation et entente; et

b) Rendre compte au Comité et au Conseil avant de finaliser et d’exécuter l’ensemble des documents et des ententes découlant de l’acquisition des terrains; et

4. Juger l’avis donné sur la modification au budget dans les éditions du 12 juin 2009 du Ottawa Citizen et du Droit conforme au Règlement sur l’affichage public.

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

At its meeting of February 23, 2007 Council approved a motion directing City and Library staff to identify opportunities for cost savings and to consider site co-location opportunities associated with the Central Library and Archives projects and then report back to Committee within six months in order to consider the implications as part of the 2008 budget process.

In response to this motion, the existing Library contract with the Resource Planning Group (RPG), a leading facilities planning firm in the health care and library sectors, was amended to undertake the work.

The City of Ottawa Central Library and Archives Synergy and Co-location Study was subsequently completed by the Resource Planning Group.

Part 1 of the Synergy and Co-location Study was completed in Fall 2008 and focussed on potential synergies between the Archives and the Library. The Study was used to support recommendations in The Archives/Ottawa Public Library Synergy and Co-location Opportunities Report that was approved by the Community and Protective Services Committee on November 1, 2007 and by Council on November 14. The full report is available at http://www.ottawa.ca/calendar/ottawa/citycouncil/cpsc/2007/11-01/ACS2007-CPS-DCM-0008.htm.

The recommended option that was approved (Motion 24/11, November 14, 2007) maximizes synergies between the Ottawa Public Library and City Archives through a first phase Archives and Library Technical Facility (81,363 square feet), and a second phase new Central Library incorporating an Archives public presence (Heritage Gateway).

On December 12, 2007, as part of the 2008 budget process, City Council approved $38.6 million in capital funding for the completion of the design and construction of the 81,363 square foot Archives and Library Technical Facility on city-owned land in the Centrepointe area. On March 28, 2008 the Ontario Ministry of Public Infrastructure Renewal announced that the City of Ottawa would receive a one-time grant of $20 million for the Central Archives and Ottawa Library Technical Services Facility project. This grant is through the Ontario Municipal Infrastructure Investment Initiative.

The Archives and Library Technical Facility is presently under construction with an anticipated opening date in Winter 2011.

Part 2 of the Central Library and Archives Synergy and Co-location Study focussing on possible sites for the central library was then undertaken. Possible sites were identified within the Board-designated geographic area bounded by Bronson, Wellington, Nicholas/Canal and Gloucester streets.

Sites were assessed to determine the practical suitability of site area and site configuration to accommodate schematic layouts of the Central Library as identified in the Functional Program for the building. A weighted site evaluation mechanism was developed and used to evaluate the potential sites within the designated area.

Site investigation and analysis was completed in the spring of 2008. On May 12, 2008, the Board approved an in-camera motion that the recommended site for the new central library be approved and that Council be requested to acquire the site.

Preliminary actions to acquire the site were undertaken in the summer and early fall of 2008, including Board identification of a $25 million pressure in the draft 2009 capital budget for the initial phase of the project including site acquisition.

In October 2008, as part of the 2009 budget development process strategy, the Board approved a motion to reschedule the request for capital funds for the initial phase of the project to coincide with the receipt of the functional building program.

RPG Consultants provided the comprehensive, consolidated Functional Building Program in March 2009. The Functional Building Program provides specifications for the library building comprising approximately 345,000 gross square feet with a required footprint of 70,000 square feet. The report confirmed the need for a purpose built standalone facility and reaffirmed the recommendation of the City block bounded by Lyon, Albert, Bay and Slater.

The recommended site has an area of 7,383 sq. m. (approx. 79,500 sq. ft.) as shown on Document 1 and is proximate to future transit routes, contributes to downtown planning initiatives and has the potential to accommodate additional mixed uses without compromising the image of the library.

RÉSUMÉ

Lors de sa réunion du 23 février 2007, le Conseil a approuvé une motion chargeant le personnel de la Ville et de la Bibliothèque de déterminer les possibilités d’économies à réaliser et de partage des locaux dans les projets de Bibliothèque centrale et d’Archives, et puis de rendre compte au Comité dans les six mois afin d’en examiner les répercussions dans le cadre du processus budgétaire de 2008.

En réponse à cette motion, le contrat liant actuellement la Bibliothèque au Resource Planning Group (RPG), une firme spécialisée dans la planification des installations dans les secteurs des soins de santé, de l’enseignement (collèges et universités), des bibliothèques, des laboratoires de recherche et de la justice, a été modifié afin de permettre le lancement d’une étude.

L’Étude des synergies et du partage des locaux de la Bibliothèque centrale et des Archives de la Ville d’Ottawa a donc été réalisée par le Resource Planning Group.

La première partie de l’Étude des synergies et du partage des locaux, qui portait principalement sur les synergies potentielles entre les Archives et la Bibliothèque, s’est achevée à l’automne 2008. Elle a servi à étayer les recommandations du rapport sur les possibilités de synergie et de partage des locaux entre les Archives et la Bibliothèque publique d’Ottawa, qui fut approuvé par le Comité des services communautaires et de protection le 1^er novembre 2007 et par le Conseil le 14 novembre. On peut consulter ce rapport dans son intégralité à l’adresse http://www.ottawa.ca/calendar/ottawa/citycouncil /cpsc/2007/11-01/ACS2007-CPS-DCM-0008.htm.

L’option recommandée et approuvée (motion 24/11, 14 novembre 2007) maximise les synergies entre la Bibliothèque publique d’Ottawa et les Archives de la Ville en deux étapes, d’abord avec une installation d’Archives et de services techniques de la Bibliothèque (81 363 pieds carrés), puis avec une nouvelle Bibliothèque centrale offrant une présence publique des Archives (Carrefour du patrimoine).

Le 12 décembre 2007, le Conseil municipal approuvait, dans le cadre du processus budgétaire de 2008, des fonds d’immobilisations de 38,6 millions de dollars pour la conception et la construction de l’installation d’Archives et de services techniques de la Bibliothèque, d’une superficie de 81 363 pieds carrés, sur un terrain municipal du secteur Centrepointe. Le 28 mars 2008, le ministère du Renouvellement de l’infrastructure publique a annoncé que la Ville d’Ottawa recevra une subvention non renouvelable de 20 millions de dollars pour son projet d’installation d’Archives et de services techniques de la Bibliothèque. Cette subvention est offerte dans le cadre de l’Initiative d’investissement dans l’infrastructure municipale.

L’installation d’Archives et de services techniques de la Bibliothèque est en construction et devrait ouvrir ses portes à l’hiver 2011.

La seconde partie de l’Étude des synergies et du partage des locaux de la Bibliothèque centrale et des Archives, qui était axée sur les emplacements possibles de construction de la bibliothèque centrale, fut alors entreprise. Des emplacements possibles ont été désignés dans le secteur géographique délimité par le conseil d’administration et compris entre les rues Bronson, Wellington, Nicholas/Canal et Gloucester.

La pertinence fonctionnelle et la configuration de ces emplacements ont été déterminées afin de dresser le tracé schématique de la Bibliothèque centrale, tel que désigné dans le programme de bâtiment fonctionnel. Un mécanisme pondéré d’évaluation a été mis en place et utilisé pour évaluer les emplacements possibles au centre-ville d’Ottawa.

L’examen et l’analyse de l’emplacement ont été achevés au printemps 2008. Le 12 mai 2008, le conseil d’administration approuvait à huis clos une motion en faveur de l’approbation de l’emplacement recommandé de la nouvelle bibliothèque centrale et de son acquisition par le Conseil.

Des mesures préliminaires ont été entreprises à l’été et au début de l’automne 2008 pour acquérir l’emplacement, notamment la désignation par le conseil d’administration d’une pression budgétaire de 25 millions de dollars dans le budget provisoire d’immobilisation de 2009, somme destinée à la première étape du projet et notamment à l’acquisition de l’emplacement. En octobre 2008, dans le cadre de la stratégie d’élaboration du budget de 2009, le conseil d’administration approuvait une autre motion sur le report de la demande de fonds d’immobilisations pour la phase initiale du projet, jusqu’à ce que le programme de bâtiment fonctionnel soit reçu.

Les experts-conseil de RPG ont remis le programme de bâtiment fonctionnel détaillé et refondu en mars 2009. Le programme de bâtiment fonctionnel fournit sur l’édifice prévu des spécifications pour une superficie d’environ 345 000 pieds carrés bruts et une surface d’encombrement de 70 000 pieds carrés. Le rapport confirmait la nécessité de construire une installation autonome dédiée et réaffirmait la recommandation concernant l’îlot de la ville compris entre les rues Lyon, Albert, Bay et Slater.

La superficie de l’emplacement recommandé est de 7 383 m² (environ 79 500 pi²), tel qu’illustré dans le Document 1, et se trouve près du passage des futurs circuits de transport en commun. Il contribue aux projets d’aménagement du centre-ville et pourrait accueillir des utilisations polyvalentes supplémentaires sans compromettre l’image de la bibliothèque.

BACKGROUND

City and Library staff in conjunction with RPG, and several advisory bodies, completed a systematic review of opportunities for synergies including the development of 5 synergy options, ranging from completely separate entities (new Central Library, Central Archives) at separate sites to a completely integrated Central Library and Central Archives at a single downtown site.

Ultimately, RPG and the staff project team recommended the option that proposed a phased co-location between the Ottawa Public Library and Central Archives:

· Phase 1 with Library technical services co-located with the Central Archives in a central location removed from the downtown core;

· Phase 2 with an Archives public facing component (Heritage Gateway) co-located with the Central Library in a downtown location

This option allowed for maximum functional synergy between some of the public services of the Archives and the Central Library, including enhanced functions telling the story of Ottawa, shared meeting spaces, shared building operations spaces, and maximum exposure of the Archives to the public due to the large numbers of daily Central Library visitors. At the same time, certain non-public support services for both the Library and Archives could be co-located for greater efficiency to a site outside of, but accessible to the downtown core.

The synergistic option was approved unanimously by Community and Protective Services Committee (at its meeting of November 1, 2007) and Council (at its meeting of November 14, 2007) as part of the Archives/Ottawa Public Library Synergy And Co-Location Opportunities Report (ACS2007-CPS-DCM-0008) and referred to in the 2008 budget process.

On December 12, 2007, City Council approved $38.6 million funding for the completion of the design and construction of the 81,363 square foot first phase Archives and Library Technical Facility on city-owned land in the Centrepointe area. On March 28, 2008, the Ontario Ministry of Public Infrastructure Renewal announced that the City of Ottawa would receive a one-time grant of $20 million for the project. This grant is through the Ontario Municipal Infrastructure Investment Initiative.

The Archives and Library Technical Facility is presently under construction with an anticipated opening date in the winter 2011.

Since approval of the Synergy And Co-location Opportunities Study Part 1 in November 2007, the OPL Board and Library and City staff worked with RPG on the site recommendation component of the Central Library and Archives Synergy and Co-location Study Part 2. Possible sites were identified within the Board-designated geographic area of Bronson, Wellington, Nicholas/Canal and Gloucester streets.

Sites were assessed in 2008 to determine the practical suitability of site area and site configuration to accommodate schematic layouts of the Central Library as identified in the Functional Building Program. A weighted site evaluation mechanism was developed and approved for the evaluation of the potential sites within the designated area.

On May 12, 2008, the OPL Board met in-camera and approved the following recommendation of the New Central Library Board Committee:

That based on the weighted evaluation mechanism described with the New Central Library Site Analysis report dated April 2008, Site 3, the Civil Service Co-op site, an entire city block, bounded by Lyon, Albert, Bay and Slater would be the site logically recommended for the location of a new central library.

Approval of the recommendation included a request to Council to acquire the site. Preliminary actions to acquire the site were undertaken from May to September, including Board identification of a $25 million pressure in the draft 2009 capital budget for the initial phase of the project including site acquisition.

RPG provided the comprehensive, consolidated Functional Building Program in March 2009. The Functional Building Program provides specifications for the library building comprising approximately 345,000 gross square feet with a required footprint of 70,000 square feet. The report confirmed the need for a purpose-built standalone facility and reaffirmed the recommendation of the City block bounded by Lyon, Albert, Bay and Slater which has an area of 7,383 sq. m. (approx. 79,500 sq. ft.) as shown on Document 1.

Details of the Central Library Functional Building Program and Site Selection Process are provided in the following report.

DISCUSSION

The Central Library is the foundation of the Ottawa Public Library system, which had more than 4.8 million visits and 25 million uses in 2008. The Ottawa Public Library provides service through 33 locations (the Main Library and 32 branches), two bookmobiles and virtual library services.

Library locations are grouped into three service tiers – community branches, district libraries and the central library. Community branches provide popular materials from convenient neighbourhood locations. These branches primarily serve their local catchments. Carlingwood, Carp, Rideau and Orléans are examples of the Library’s 29 community branches.

Three district libraries are larger (Cumberland, Nepean Centrepointe and Greenboro) and are designed to deliver an intermediate, complementary level of service. District libraries do not compete with the Central Library, but play a supporting role. District libraries serve a larger geographic area including their local catchments plus a broader area that may include several community branches.

The Central Library is the hub of the system providing comprehensive collections and specialized services and expertise. The Central Library provides citywide services to all library locations and all city residents. It also serves as a community branch to its local community.

These three service tiers support an integrated library network that provides access to all system resources both physically and virtually.

Given its prominent and comprehensive role as part of the library system, it is important to establish the Central Library as a major feature of downtown urban life. An appropriate central library, in a major city and national capital, should include pronounced visibility, striking architecture, multi-purpose exterior space, and accessible gathering and exhibition spaces. The central library must be accessible by many transportation modes to establish the Library as a major city destination.

Part 1 of the Synergy and Co-Location Study recommended the addition of approximately 20,000 square feet of Archives Public Service space to the central library. The evolution of this space into the City of Ottawa Heritage Gateway further emphasizes the need for a highly visible, accessible and appropriate civic setting.

With the requirement for a prominent, central location accessible to the largest numbers of people and concentrations of activity within the Nation’s capital, the Ottawa Public Library Board clarified that the new central library must be in the central downtown. The Board further defined the central downtown as the area bounded by:

· Nicholas/Canal to the east;

· Bronson to the west;

· Wellington to the north; and

· Gloucester to the south.

New Central Library Functional Building Program and Footprint

The draft Functional Building Program for the new Central Library presents a full and detailed picture of how the library will function on a day-to-day basis. It is not the design for a new building rather, it identifies the type and size of the components required to provide services and support operations.

As the foundation of the Ottawa Public Library system, the Central Library is expected to have more than 10,000 visitors every day.

The proposed new Central Library will be physically organized into 13 spatially discrete functional components including:

1. Concourse, Meeting Rooms, and Ancillary Services;

2. City of Ottawa Heritage Gateway;

3. Welcome Centre;

4. Community Library;

5. Children’s Services;

6. Teen Zone;

7. Fiction, Newspapers and Magazines;

8. Technology, Communications and Digital Services;

9. Learning Centre A: Languages and Literacy Centre;

10. Learning Centre B: Business and Careers Centre;

11. Learning Centre C: Local History and Genealogy Centre;

12. Library Administration;

13. Materials Handling and Operations, and Leasable Space.

Additional detail on the functional components is provided as Document 2.

From a facility perspective, it is expected that there will be underground parking and access to future rapid transit. The building construction will be to a LEED™ Gold standard with a 40% reduction in energy requirements compared to a conventional building.

Library planning standards for central libraries calculate gross space required on 0.45 gft^{2 (}gross square feet)per capita. To reflect Ottawa’s geography and its more decentralized library system, the Resource Planning Group calculated a central library that is approximately two-thirds of the average or approximately 0.27 gft² per capita. The building envelope of the Central Library will therefore be established at approximately 345,000 square feet, with extensive urban space, calling for a footprint estimated at 70,000 square feet.

Site Selection Process

To begin the process, a master list of 13 potential sites (Document 3) within the designated area was developed based on properties identified by the consultants and various community and Library Board members

Criteria used to identify and assist with the screening of prospective sites included an assessment of the following:

· Site Capacity: existing zoning allowance for suitable density and mix of function; availability of site services; lack of encumbrances, optimal rectangular geometry; geo-technical capacity for sub grade structures; sufficient footprint to allow for appropriate exterior space.

· Access: proximity to sidewalks, pedestrian paths and bicycle paths; existing and future transit routes and major transit stops; parking access, lay by and drop-off; proximity to major arterial roads.

· Character: urban (downtown) site; surrounding development; busy, dynamic, safe, commercial, diverse, animated; site visible from as many approaches as possible with quality long and short range views; site sufficient to accommodate an appropriate architectural image.

· Proximate Activities: proximity to civic facilities, parks and green spaces, cultural facilities, commercial facilities, educational facilities, and residential facilities.

· Site Partners: Archives, retail space, and residential space.

· Contribution to Civic Planning Initiatives: develop civic focal points and civic identity; integrate with emerging transit plans; respond to patterns of future urban growth; and respond to specific community development patterns.

· Support for Civic Sustainability Initiatives: promote energy savings through building orientation; promote energy savings by using recoverable on-site energy; contribute to local community development; contribute to positive urban densification; and contribute to local economic development.

Potential sites were then assessed to determine if there were obvious reasons for their disqualification which included use as public space (such as the Festival Plaza) or park space (such as Confederation Park) that precluded their use as buildings sites at any time in the near future.

Additionally, site suggestions that involved the adaptive reuse of existing building were disqualified if the existing building (e.g., former Train Station/Ottawa Conference Centre) would not be functionally suitable as a Central Library.

Given the functional programming and footprint of the central library, it was clear that an existing repurposed building was unlikely to be a suitable site due to the structural upgrading and general reconditioning that would be required to achieve functional suitability.

The remaining sites were then assessed to determine the practical suitability of site area and site configuration to accommodate schematic layouts of the Central Library as identified in the Functional Program for the building.

Sites that were legitimate building sites and were possibly available, but were determined to be unsuitable because of area and/or configuration (e.g., Place de Ville Phase III, Royal Trust Slater Laurier Bank) were also disqualified from the master list.

Ultimately, five sites located within the designated area were deemed practical.

To assess the final sites, a weighted site evaluation using the key principles outlined in the criteria described above was developed. The weighted site evaluation focused on the following criteria:

· Character: Is the site highly visible from different approaches allowing for an innovative architectural statement and sustainable building systems?

· Contextual Suitability: Is the surrounding area complementary in terms of character and image? Is it proximate to the traditional cultural and administrative centre of the city and proximate to future transit routes?

· Contribution to City Planning Initiatives: Would the development be a catalyst for visionary and proactive downtown development? Would there be a contribution to City planning objectives? Would the site contribute to NCC planning objectives related to the ceremonial route and the Parliamentary Precinct?

· Capacities: Does the site accommodate the functional program without significant compromises? Does the site have the potential to accommodate additional mixed uses without compromising the image of a library?

· Encumbrances: Does the site pose any significant physical, legal or operational encumbrances?

Based on the weighted evaluation mechanism described above, the Civil Service Co-op site, an entire city block bounded by Lyon, Albert, Bay and Slater, with a site area of 7,383 sq. m. (approx. 79,500 sq. ft.), emerged as the recommended site.

Acquisition and development of this site would allow for the integration with rapid transit, urban place-making, and proactive development of the surrounding escarpment area, as well as featuring distinguished architecture in the building’s design and construction.

Planning & Growth Management Department Comment

In 2004, City Council approved the Downtown Ottawa Urban Design Study 2020, a plan that would set the stage for a renewed physical environment for Ottawa’s downtown. In concert with the Official Plan, this long-term design policy framework for the downtown is a key design reference document aimed at enhancing the quality of the public realm and guiding future downtown development and property decisions.

Addressing an area bounded by Bronson, Wellington, St. Patrick, King Edward and the Queensway, the Downtown Ottawa Urban Design Strategy recommended the preparation of 41 sub-ordinate plans that would provide detailed direction for the implementation of the Downtown Design Strategy.

The first area to be examined consolidated three of the 41 sub-ordinate areas, and encompassed the former Ottawa Technical High School lands between Bronson and Bay, along with the area below the escarpment parallel to Scott and Albert south of LeBreton. In December 2008, City Council approved the Escarpment Area District Plan, which provided detailed development plans for the area that could accommodate up to 2,800 new residential units, along with complementary retail, service and office uses, all of which would focus on renewed green spaces.

Combined with up to 4,300 new residential units to be developed in LeBreton, approximately 7,000 new residential units could be added to the area west of the downtown core. This could result in upwards of 10,000 new residents. These new residents, together with new and existing Centretown residents south of Laurier, and those new and existing residents in the ByWard Market and its surroundings, will spark a renaissance for Ottawa’s downtown as a place to live and work..

The proposed location of the new Central Library on the block bounded by Bay, Lyon, Slater and Albert will be in the centre of this area, helping to build community links from the central downtown west to LeBreton and Bayview, south to Centretown, and east to the ByWard Market, Lowertown, Sandy Hill and the University of Ottawa.

The proposed location of the new Central Library is also located immediately adjacent to the Downtown West LRT station, which is proposed to be located beneath Slater Street on this block. The new Central Library would have direct linking to the transit station, providing it with unparalleled access to most of Ottawa’s population.

In addition to the transit station, new urban open spaces are a key component of the Downtown Ottawa Urban Design Strategy, and the proposed forecourt of the new Central Library would be situated at a location on Lyon Street already proposed for a new urban open space in the Downtown Design Strategy.

Acquisition of the Lands

Of the five sites evaluated with the weighted criteria, the recommended site for the new Central Library provides the greatest opportunities for development and investment furthering the City’s objectives of implementing the Escarpment Plan approved by Council in December 2008 and the Downtown Ottawa Transit Tunnel Corridor and Alignment and Station Alternatives approved by Council in May 2009.

It is also the only one of the four sites (achieving a rating of higher than 50 out of 100 points) that the City has the legal ability to acquire through expropriation if negotiations for an acquisition are not successful.

The recommend site (the “Lands”) has an over all site area of 0.7383 hectares, and a recent independent real estate appraisal indicates that the total market value of the Lands, based on a willing buyer/seller transaction, is within the 2009 capital funding authority set out in Recommendation 2 herein.

While the new Central Library will have a total floor area of approximately 345,000 sq. ft., the Lands appear to have the potential, under the existing zoning, to accommodate approximately twice that amount of floor space in a typical downtown redevelopment which is important because additional mixed-use development could also be accommodated on the site, achieving the best financial value for the City.

In that regard, it is understood that the functional and design requirements for the New Central Library cannot be compromised and, as a result, it is not possible to fully exploit all the building density that may be within the height limits for this site. Moreover, the largest portion of the ground floor area will need to be reserved for library development. However, it is believed that there still remains a significant potential for mixed-use development on the Lands.

The early acquisition of the site is essential to proceeding with the detailed planning, design development, and a request for proposal process for the new Central Library, all of which will take several years to complete before construction can commence. It will also allow for the City to negotiate property settlements with the owners of the affected properties in a manner that minimizes the effects of dislocation.

In particular, it is noted that the Parcel “C” property, shown in Document 1, owned by the Civil Service Co-operative Credit Society Limited (CS-COOP now known as the Alterna Bank) has a site area of 4,918 sq. m., representing about two thirds of the total site area of the Lands. The Alterna Bank headquarters and a retailing bank facility are located on this property.CS-COOP previously considered redeveloping this property with a new headquarters/retail banking building and a residential condominium building for their client members.

In order to best achieve the corporate objectives of both parties, it is the intention to negotiate with the Alterna Bank on the basis of co-operating with them to accommodate their corporate needs on the Lands if so desired and, if not, to assist in any relocation requirements.

It is important to affirm the City’s desire to acquire the Lands through meaningful negotiations. To this end, every effort will be made to negotiate amicable settlements with all property owners, and any proposed settlements will be reported back to Committee and Council for approval.

Should negotiations prove to be unsuccessful the City would retain its rights under the Expropriation Act, and staff would report to Council to receive direction.

CONSULTATION

Key stakeholder groups that have been engaged during the development of the functional building program for the new Central Library and/or the review of synergy and co-location opportunities between the Central Library and the Archives include:

a) Ottawa Public Library Board

b) New Central Library Board Committee/Facilities Planning Committee

c) Friends of the Ottawa Public Library Association

d) Ottawa Public Library Foundation

e) Central Archives Relocation Committee

The Resource Planning Group’s Project Manager provided several briefings to these stakeholder groups. Meetings of the Library Board are open to the public and agendas are published on both the Library and City websites.

LEGAL/RISK MANAGEMENT IMPLICATIONS

There are no legal risk management impediments to implementing any of the recommendations in this report.

FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS

The report recommends acquiring 0.7383 hectares of land to support the development of a new central library site. The replacement of the main library was identified in the City's 2006 Long Range Financial Plan. Subsequent annual budgets have provided funding for pre-design planning, project management and communications including public consultations and outreach. The 2009 capital budget has identified $181.5 million during 2012 - 2018 for the replacement of the main library. In addition, portions of the replacement costs of the main library, which are associated with growth, have also been included in the proposed 2009 Development Charge Study.

No funds have been identified in the 2009 capital budget for the acquisition of land for a new central library site. Should the Corporate Services and Economic Development Committee endorse the report recommendations, debt financing would be required to acquire these lands. Through the adoption of the Fiscal Framework document, Council has endorsed the use of debt financing for identifiable legacy projects, which are defined as "one of a kind" projects that contribute to the overall quality of life in the city and will have long-lasting benefit. The acquisition of land leading to the replacement of the main library would qualify as an identifiable legacy project. .

The Fiscal Framework document also sets limits on the amount of debt that can be used to fund capital projects. Future principal and interest payments for tax- and rate- supported debt is not to exceed 7.5% of the City’s own source revenues. Based on the 2009 adopted budget, the amount of debt servicing costs represent approximately 4.65% of the City's own source funds. An additional $600 million in new debt would need to be issued before the debt servicing costs would reach the 7.5% limit established by Council. Therefore, based on the projected total capital costs associated with the replacement of the main library, future debt servicing costs can be accommodated within these limits.

In order to proceed with the land acquisition, it is recommended that capital authority in the amount of $26 million be established. This amount represents the amortization of the $181.5 million projected main library replacement cost over the 2012 - 2018 time period. However, it does not include staff's estimate of the costs associated with acquiring the actual lands. Staff will provide a report to Committee and Council prior to the finalization of any purchase agreement.

DISPOSITION

Following Council’s approval of Recommendation #3, the Real Estate Partnerships and Development Office (REPDO) will contact the property owners of the Lands and commence acquisition negotiations.

Document 1

Document 2

New Central Library Functional Building Program

Functional Component	Space Requirement
	Net Sq Ft	Gross Sq Ft
A. PUBLIC SPACES
A1. Concourse, Meeting Rooms and Ancillary Spaces	35,740	41,101
Public Spaces Sub-total	35,740	41,101
B. LIBRARY PUBLIC SERVICES
B1. Welcome Centre	10,648	12,245
B2. Community Library	16,798	19,318
B3. Children’s Services	16,470	18,940
B4. Teen Zone	7,372	8,478
B5. Fiction, Newspapers and Magazines	22,706	26,110
B6. Technology, Communications and Digital Services	22,048	25,355
B7. Learning Centre A: Languages and Literacy Centre	21,595	24,835
B8. Learning Centre B: Business and Careers Centre	16,898	19,433
B9. Learning Centre C: Local History and Genealogy Centre	21,400	24,610
Library Public Services Sub-total	155,935	179,324
C. CITY OF OTTAWA
C1. Heritage Gateway	18,130	19,943
City of Ottawa Sub-total	18,130	19,943
D. LIBRARY SUPPORT SERVICES
D1. Library Administration	9,102	10,012
D2. Materials Handling and Operations	13,580	15,617
Library Support Services Sub-total	22,682	25,629
Grand Total Library	232,487	265,997
Leasable Space	20,000	22,000
	-	-
Total Component Gross Area	252,487	287,997
GRAND TOTAL		345,600

Functional Component Descriptions

Concourse, Meeting Rooms, and Ancillary Services contains a large public concourse and atrium, formal meeting and presentation spaces, a 300-seat lecture style auditorium with stage, and Friends of the Library used bookshop, as well as privately operated services that augment the services of the Library.

City of Ottawa Heritage Gateway contains a unique gallery and multi-purpose space featuring permanent and temporary exhibits and cultural events that showcase the history, geography and community profile of the City of Ottawa.

Welcome Centre is the main public entrance and exit from the Library. The Welcome Centre provides self-service technologies, Borrower Services, an information desk and an orientation centre supporting new users, group tours and newcomers to Canada.

Community Library is the downtown neighbourhood branch contained within the Library. The Community Library features popular materials displayed in bookstore shelving, a reading amphitheatre, and an assistive services centre for persons with disabilities.

Children’s Services is a library within the Library for children from birth to age twelve, their parents and caregivers. The children’s area will have services, exhibits, collections and programs designed for each age group.

Teen Zone. This component offers resources, spaces, technology and programs for teens aged 13 to 18. The Teen Zone will have educational, social and cultural spaces for teens.

Fiction, Newspapers and Magazines contains the largest fiction collection in the Library system plus newspapers and magazines in traditional and digital formats. A special feature will be the World News Centre that will support users updating their knowledge of the world and world events.

Technology, Communications and Digital Services is the brain of Ottawa’s entire public library system. It provides and supports e-services to all the branches and connects users at home to online information. A large information commons and a public computer-training lab will be included in this component.

Learning Centre A: Languages and Literacy Centre focuses on non-fiction, on reference material, on learning and on languages and literacy training. Collections in world languages will be here as well as the Language and Literacy Centre that includes a language learning lab.

Learning Centre B: Business and Careers Centre is a continuation of the non-fiction collection, and includes the Business and Careers Centre which will combine career information with small business support, planning and management. All of the Learning Centre components will offer extensive public study and meeting space.

Learning Centre C: Local History and Genealogy Centre includes the final section of the non-fiction collection plus the Local History and Genealogy Centre. The Carnegie Lounge, a recreation and relaxation space designed with seniors in mind is in this component.

Library Administration contains workspaces and public meeting spaces for the Library administration, the Ottawa Public Library Board, and the Ottawa Public Library Foundation.

Materials Handling and Operations will support the movement of materials in and out of the building with automated materials handling systems. Facility operations and maintenance required to support the library will be included here.

Leasable Space includes expansion space for Library activities beyond the 25-year planning horizon of the Functional Building Program planning study. On an interim basis, this space will support non-library functions, including revenue-generating activities.

Document 3

Site Categories

Sites that were initially disqualified due to their current uses as public and/or park space were identified as Category A Sites.

Category A Sites:

· Site 10 – Festival Plaza;

· Site 11 – Confederation Park;

· Site 12 – Provincial Courthouse; and

· Site 13 – Government Conference Centre.

Sites that involved the adaptive reuse of existing buildings that were functionally unsuitable as a Central Library were identified as Category B Sites.

Category B Sites:

· Site 4 – Place de Ville Phase III;

· Site 5 – Royal Trust Slater Laurier Bank;

· Site 6 – Slater O’Conner Laurier; and

· Site 7 – 150 Elgin.

The remaining sites, determined to be suitable for assessment were identified as Category C. These sites were evaluated to determine the appropriateness of the site area and configuration to accommodate schematic layouts of the Central Library as identified in the Functional Program for the building.

Category C Sites:

· Site 1 – Ottawa Technical High School: Fields and Open Space (Laurier / Slater / Bay / Bronson);

· Site 2 – Ottawa Technical high School: School Building Site (Slater/Bay/Albert);

· Site 3 – Civil Service Co-op Site (Lyon/Albert/Slater/Bay);

· Site 8 – Shamrock Parking Lot (Metcalfe/Lisgar/Nepean); and

· Site 9 – Lorne Building: Former National Gallery Site (Slater/Elgin/Albert).

Weighted Scoring for Category C Sites

· Site 1 – Technical High School – Fields: 77.8;

· Site 2 – Technical High School – School Building: 71.4;

· Site 3 – Civil Service Co-op: 79.5;

· Site 8 – Shamrock Parking: 41.7; and

· Site 9 – Lorne Building – Former National Gallery: 73.4.