Design firm’s siting analysis examining five possible locations for a new central Cape Breton Regional Library facility views the current Sydney library site as most favourablePublished Apr 01, 2025 • Last updated 1 hour ago • 5 minute readAccording to a siting analysis report, the location of the James L. McConnell Memorial Library is considered the top choice to located a new central library. Photo by CAPE BRETON POST FILEIt’s looking like the site of the current James L. McConnell Memorial Library in downtown Sydney is now being touted as the favourable choice for the centralized Cape Breton Regional Library, according to a siting analysis report.And the least favourable was the option that drew mixed reactions from the previous Cape Breton Regional Municipality administration: the former Cape Breton County Courthouse near Wentworth Park.THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY.Subscribe now to access this story and more:Unlimited access to the website and appExclusive access to premium content, newsletters and podcastsFull access to the e-Edition app, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment onEnjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalistsSupport local journalists and the next generation of journalistsSUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES.Subscribe or sign in to your account to continue your reading experience.Unlimited access to the website and appExclusive access to premium content, newsletters and podcastsFull access to the e-Edition app, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment onEnjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalistsSupport local journalists and the next generation of journalistsRegister to unlock more articles.Create an account or sign in to continue your reading experience.Access additional stories every monthShare your thoughts and join the conversation in our commenting communityGet email updates from your favourite authorsSign In or Create an AccountorArticle contentThe report — conducted by Dartmouth-based integrated planning and design firm Fathom Studio, whom the Cape Breton-Victoria Regional Library board hired — was originally slated to go before CBRM council for discussion on Tuesday.But unfavourable weather conditions prevented the report’s main speaker from attending, and therefore the presentation was postponed.That discussion, according to CBRM Deputy Mayor Eldon MacDonald, is likely to occur during next month’s committee of the whole meeting at city hall in Sydney. A siting analysis report on locations for a new central library gave the old Cape Breton County Courthouse option a 47 per cent ranking. Photo by IAN NATHANSON/CAPE BRETON POST FILEFIVE SITESPostponement aside, the publicly available siting analysis report mentions five potential sites in the downtown Sydney area were examined by a steering committee:— The current McConnell library location at 50 Falmouth St., between Bentinck and Charlotte streets— The old Cape Breton County Courthouse near Wentworth Park— The long-shuttered Bargain Shop on Charlotte Street— CBRM-owned land at the corner of George and Prince streets, across from the T.W. Curry Community CentreArticle content— The former Cape Breton Post building at 75 Dorchester St.Of these five sites, the report notes, the McConnell location received an 84 per cent ranking as the most favourable, the Bargain Shop, old Post building and the CBRM-owned land all ranked 62 per cent, while the old courthouse — a site favoured by many council members under the previous municipal administration — was ranked last, with 47 per cent.“There were a number of different criteria considered for the scoring of the various different sites,” said MacDonald, a former chair of the library board. “Just being in the downtown core in itself and having spinoff for economic development opportunities, I think is important.”“More people have indicated that they would like to be able to walk and cycle to the library — so having active transportation networks that can get people to the library (is also important).” CBRM Deputy Mayor Eldon MacDonald: “More people have indicated that they would like to be able to walk and cycle to the library — so having active transportation networks that can get people to the library (is also important).” Photo by IAN NATHANSON/CAPE BRETON POST FILEREPLACING OLD BUILDINGAs for the property itself, the analysis notes, the current 65-year-old building would be demolished and replaced by a multi-storey facility that would come close to meeting requirements of earlier studies such as providing 45,000 square feet of usable space, support 25 parking spaces for staff and additional visitors if possible, be located close to transit services and active transit, and near cultural, recreational and educational facilities.Article contentThe deputy mayor feels that the current McConnell location meets all those requirements.Preliminary designs for the new McConnell, provided in the analysis report, show that parking for up to 39 spaces can be accommodated in a new-build, while if needed another property on Charlotte Street could be acquired. A preliminary sketch of a new build for the central libary on the site of the current McConnell library in Sydney, which could potentially include a rooftop garden and a pedway to connect to the NSCC Sydney Waterfront Campus. Photo by CONTRIBUTED/FATHOM STUDIOFOUR YEARS AWAYAs well, plans include a rooftop garden area and potential pedway access to the Nova Scotia Community College Sydney Waterfront Campus.“I’m sure the NSCC would be happy to sit down and collaborate with our library staff and board to be able to make opportunities happen,” MacDonald said, adding that with the downtown YMCA just a block away, potential partnerships and daycare facilities could be provided.Taking into consideration designs, further funding contributions from provincial and federal levels, and construction, MacDonald anticipates a new central library could potentially be open in the next four years.Article contentStill, before any firm decisions can be made, council has to hear from Fathom Studios on the analysis report and provide their feedback.‘HAVE TO COME TO A DECISION’“There will be an opportunity for council to question all the methodology and the responses received, and the rationale behind the percentage that were weighted for each of the five sites,” said CBRM Mayor Cecil Clarke.“Ultimately, the outcome of that is for council to come to a determination of what to do with the existing site and what the future plan will be.” CBRM Mayor Cecil Clarke: “There will be an opportunity for council to question all the methodology and the responses received and the rationale behind the percentage that were weighted for each of the five sites.” Photo by IAN NATHANSON/CAPE BRETON POSTMore importantly for Clarke, after roughly 15 years or more of studies, plans, rejected ideas and more, a decision on going ahead with a central library is needed.“The central library function, which also serves for the Sydney library, is one that is stressed, and the aging infrastructure continues to add up costs and concerns,” he said.“So we do have to come to a decision, and it means we have to look to our government partners at the provincial and federal levels to see how we can get a final decision to move forward.”Article contentHe added that CBRM has $1.5 million in reserve funds “that’s been earmarked towards a library.”LINGERING ISSUEThe longstanding central library issue has lingered since Clarke’s previous mayoral terms. The closest attempt to build a new facility came via developer Marty Chernin and his group, Harbour Royale Development Ltd., and plans for a waterfront library.But those plans were scuttled in 2021, when the council under a different administration felt the ultimate $32-million cost and CBRM’s one-third contribution was too steep — and rejected those plans, not to mention a veto to extend a development deal.Council then considered an option to retrofit the former county courthouse, but that only got as far as a Stantec study before councillors voted to consider other possibilities. Pat Bates, chair of the New Library Build Committee: “We’ve been sensing that up until now there’s very little indication that this was going to move ahead.” Photo by CONTRIBUTEDClarke figured costs for a new-build at the McConnell location would probably be pegged at around $30 million “at minimum — and given what (current) construction costs have been,” he said.Article content“Again, we have to come at this from a point of view of our long-term strategy and term priorities. We need to reflect a new library into the future, make a decision where its location is, and plan forward from that decision.”TAKING SO LONGPat Bates, chair of the New Library Build Committee, said he’s disappointed that it’s taking so long to grasp the need for a new central library in the community.“We’ve been sensing that up until now there’s very little indication that this was going to move ahead,” he said. “I’m expecting to meet with the mayor (soon) and hoping I will come out of that with a different outlook.”Article content
McConnell library site preferred, siting analysis report concludes
