Saskatoon Library has a shortlist of candidate sites for replacing downtown branch

The Saskatoon Public Library service has a shortlist of potential sites for its replacement downtown branch.

In a new report going to city councillors next week, the city says the SPL board approved a list of candidate sites last April. The service has not publicly identified those potential locations.

Now, the library service is operating on two parallel planning tracks.

On one hand, Saskatoon Public Library is wrapping up its business case for either renovating the existing Frances Morrison Central Library on 23rd Street or replacing the aging and out-coded building with a new one at a different site.

That business case — originally expected to come to councillors earlier this year — is now due this fall.  

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In the meantime, SPL is also working with the city to approach owners of privately owned land about the potential for buying their land for a replacement branch building.

The potential sites approved by the library board were chosen based on factors such as their size, accessibility via various modes of transportation and cost, according to an emailed statement from the library service.

"Due to the commercial sensitivity of site selection and its potential impact on neighbouring businesses and organizations, identification and any associated purchase or sale of the property will be publicly communicated following decision-making and commercial negotiations," the library added.

Library hopes borrowing is approved this fall

A new library branch is one of two big-ticket downtown building projects being planned at the same time. The other is a new downtown arena.

The city has charted an aggressive timeline for deciding the location of a new arena within a planned downtown entertainment district. It wants to choose the site, following public consultation, by the end of 2019.

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But the timeline for choosing a new library site is less clear.

While Saskatoon Public Library can purchase land on its own, it's expected the service will need to borrow money for the replacement project — and borrowing (as well as the library's annual budget) needs to be approved by city council, according to the city.

"SPL is hopeful that borrowing approval for a new central library will be received this fall, and that the project will proceed from there," the library service said in its statement.

City Coun. Hilary Gough, who sits on Saskatoon Public Library's board of directors, said selecting the site of a new central library is key to future downtown planning.

"With the work of narrowing down sites complete and the phased acquisition process as laid out, I have no concerns about the timeline for site selection and feel confident that a final decision will be appropriately co-ordinated with the next steps of the project," she said.