On Air Now

  • 519-537-1047

Facility Report

Report Suggests Tearing Down or Selling Carnegie Library in Ingersoll

INGERSOLL - An Ingersoll Facility Assessment Report is recommending Ingersoll council sell or tear down the Carnegie building built in 1910 that is the former Ingersoll library. The library now known as the Carnegie building was built through a special philanthropic grant from American millionaire Andrew Carnegie to help fund municipal libraries. Today the building is currently being used as a youth drop-in centre. Michael Their from WGD Architects Inc. presented the report to council he said there are a number of issues with the building, " Unfortunately it's not been maintained very well, it's deteriorated." Their adds it would cost the city nearly 330 thousand dollars to keep the building open in the short term. Their says due to the small floor plan of the building it doesn't pose a good economic proposect for rentals.The Carnegie building currently is not designated as a heritage site. Council has not made a decision on the fate of the building but will be looking into what to do with it in the future.

Other buildings in the report included Ingersoll Town Hall, which Their says is in fairly good condition but requires updates to the roof, windows and thermostat system, at an estimated cost of 5 to 6 hundred thousand dollars. Ingersoll District Memorial Arena was also assessed and determined to have a few years left of use but Their suggests relocating to another area. The estimated cost to taxpayers to keep the Arena open is estimated at $7-750,000. 

Ingersoll Mayor Ted Comiskey called the report a wake up call when it comes to asset management. 

Council is looking into a study to make a decision on what to do with the buildings. 

 

More from Local News

Comments

Add a comment

Log in to the club or enter your details below.
Rating *

Weather