Decision on Bright’s Grove library expansion delayed

Journal Staff The fate of a Bright’s Grove Library expansion remains up in the air. City council deferred a decision during budget deliberations last week, and asked for more information in a staff report expected early next year.

Journal Staff

The fate of a Bright’s Grove Library expansion remains up in the air.

City council deferred a decision during budget deliberations last week, and asked for more information in a staff report expected early next year.

The proposal calls for a 7,000-square-foot expansion of the historic Faethorne House on Hamilton Road to create a “community hub” with a larger library and art gallery, elevator and accessible washrooms, and indoor gathering space for youth program, meetings and special events.

Kirsten Kilner Holmes and Mark Moran, who co-chair a community group spearheading the project, told council earlier this month the community has pushed to make the library accessible to people with disabilities for 25 years.

“Bright’s Grove has waited long enough,” Moran said.

The project has been estimated at $3.4 million, with residents contributing $1 million from a fundraising campaign.

A more realistic estimate is $4 million to $5 million because of supply shortages and rising construction costs, said Sarnia CAO Chris Carter.