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HomeMy WebLinkAboutLakeshore Advance, 2013-11-06, Page 10Wednesday, November 6, 2013 • Lakeshore Advance 9 Gerard Creces ON Agency .l,inette Raillle Old makes way for new, in this case a library that will boost the downtown. It is scheduled to open next spring. Demolition marks the start of Zurich library construction Gerard Creces OMI Agency It was a great day to tear down a building. The Municipality of Bluewater is on their way to constructing their second new library this year, as crews from I)&I Wattam from Wingham began demol- ishing a building at the corner of Main and Goshen Street, Zurich. While the demolition was completed Oct. 30, cleanup of the site was expected to take a few extra days, from debris removal to backfilling. As was the case in Bayfield, the idea for the new Zurich library came from the community level. "'They were both part of a pent up demand," said Bluewater CA() Steve McAuley. 1 le said the support for the project has been overwhelming, and nearly all design input from public meetings has been incorporated into the new building. "This will definitely put some energy back into downtown," he added. It will be quite a boost for the library MAK Qy \A/ /ir4 (411.4' .,,1114' 111 s/„ , X4 44 1 141111 Jnr .n111e 11114 ,4 4\ \. 111.111 1%, i.l, , 1 tiff. !.'.. 'i I I This will definitely put some energy back into downtown." — Blueivatc'r CA() Steve McAuley itself, which currently occupies a space of just 1300 square feet in the basement of a municipal building at Main and Frederich Street. 'The new building will be 3,500 square feet when finished, and will include dedicated space for chil- dren's programming - there is an active audience for but little space in the cur- rent location. The entrance will be open from both streets, with a reading garden going in 9IAIIAO lakeshoreadvance.com Get all of your news, sports and more. Serving Grand Bend and surrounding area L-. .. •• ..vin . w lea .....--...sass a Aa - r. at the corner facing the intersection, while the reading room at the new library will also incorpo- rate a bit of the old building. Some brick from the demolition will be salvaged and used in a fireplace included in the adult section plans. The demol- ished building was formerly a grocery store, in addition to having apartments upstairs. Acquiring the building was spearheaded by the Zurich Chamber of Commerce, who had worked with the seller of the old storefront prior to approaching Mummer Council with the idea. The building sold for $47,500, though with demolition and rehabilitation costs, the full price tag will be closer to $100,000. All told, the new library has a budget of $1.04 million, with $800,000 of that com- ing from a $7.5 million ()MANIA grant that also helped pay for the Bayfield Public Library. 'There will be no effect on the tax base, and no increase of levies for the project, McAuley said. The new library is expected to be complete next spring. ATTENTION ADVERTISERS! DEADLINES Our Weekly Deadlines are as follows: ADVERTISING & EDITORIAL Friday @ 2:00 prn Grand Bend tlkosboro Advaoco 58 Ontario St. N, Grand Bend PH: 519-238-5383 arc sunmedIa ce OFFICE IIOURS: Mon. & Fri. Kam - 4pm 'l'hurs. & Fri. Nang - 4pm CLOSED TUESDAYS 4.3