What does the future hold for the venerable Carnegie Library building in downtown Bracebridge? Could it be a new town museum, a satellite building for the municipal office, commercial space or something else altogether?
That’s the question the Town councillors are aiming to answer as part of a proposed study.
During tomorrow’s general committee meeting, councillors will vote on whether to formally begin looking into the possible uses for the building.
The Muskoka Lumber Community Centre will be the new home to the recently named Coulson Family Bracebridge Library. It is anticipated that the Bracebridge Library will begin moving over to the new facility in June 2024, which will leave 94 Manitoba Street vacant.
Several options have been identified for repurposing of the site including a satellite site for municipal services, rental office space, museum/archives and a community hub.
According to Town staff, some preliminary inquiries have been received from community organizations and private businesses expressing interest in the building for their own use. Staff also indicated that community input has indicated there is a strong preference for the building to remain in the Town’s possession to preserve the building’s heritage and public role in the downtown.
The cost of the study is estimated at $9,000.
Built in 1906, the Carnegie Library was formally acknowledged as being of historic and architectural value under a town bylaw enacted in 1984.
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