Former bar site for temporary library

Author: Frank Matys

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Frank Matys

This former bar will serve as the temporary home of Orillia’s public library during construction of a new library. A new fire station will be built on the property later.

From barflies to bookworms and beyond.
A vacant building that once housed the 2nd Last Call will become the temporary home of Orillia’s public library when the existing library is torn down to make way for a new facility.
The former bar is located at 500 Gill Street, a property recently purchased for a future fire station at a cost of $1.13 million.
Mayor Ron Stevens said the library would operate from the single-storey building while the detailed design for the fire station is developed.
“The adaptive reuse of the existing building will mean that the city will not have to pay rental or lease costs during the two-year construction period of the new library, and the temporary housing of the existing library,” Stevens said.
Officials estimate renovation costs will reach about $790,000, though a portion of those funds will be spent on items that can be reused by the fire department when its facility is established at the site.
Renovating the building to accommodate the library can be accomplished within “a very short timeline,” allowing for a quick move and minimal disruption to the library’s operations, the city said in a statement.
Bordering the Highway 12 bypass, the squat building – jokingly dubbed the city’s “Second Last Library” – is barrier-free, has ample parking and is near a bus route, Stevens added.
Transit service will run every 30 minutes beginning in September.
“When the renovations and move to the temporary location are complete, your library will be able to continue to offer the same level of programming and services that are currently being provided,” said CEO Dawn Silver.
The Gill Street property was one of two recently purchased by the municipality to accommodate growth within the city’s emergency services sector.
Council recently approved a conditional agreement of purchase and sale for 57 Coldwater St. E., at a cost of $300,000.
A new OPP detachment is planned for the property, and will replace the cramped and outdated Peter Street detachment.