Library Square could become Aurora's next community hub as designs unveiled
Options for transformation up for discussion at next council meeting

YorkRegion.com
Nov. 29, 2017
Teresa Latchford

Library Square could become Aurora’s next public hot spot.

Next month the town’s former library and seniors’ centre located on Victoria Street beside the Cultural Centre are set to be demolished. While it seems that public consultations have been going on for years regarding what the community would like to see done with the soon-to-be vacant space, there may finally be an answer.

David Leinster of The Planning Partnership presented two concept designs that would transform the space between the Aurora Public Library and the Aurora Cultural Centre into a community hub also utilizing the town-owned land to the north. The presentations were made in the Holland Room at town hall to various community groups and the public to seek feedback on a preferred option before heading to council with a recommendation on Dec. 5.

“Our mandate is to explore the feasibility of programmable public space that would support the cultural centre,” Leinster said. “We were given a capital budget ($5 million) to work with and we think we are within budget with both options.”

The first concept would create a raised public space, equivalent to the library’s second floor, featuring seating, plantings, function space for markets, events and theatre opportunities. It would require a new entrance to the library. Stairs or escalators would allow access to street level.

The second concept would see a public space in line with the first storey of the library. A glass canopy would connect the square to Victoria Street between the Cultural Centre and its standalone addition to the north.

This option would provide for a larger public square that could accommodate a market, movie nights and even an ice pad for recreational skating.

A parking garage under the square is also being discussed.

In both concepts, the space to the north of the Cultural Centre would become a parking lot with accessible parking just at the north edge of the square itself.

Aurora resident Dale Downey pointed out a town park is a hop, skip and jump from the proposed square and wondered about the duplication of public space so close together.

“Half of the park is used for sport and it is green space,” Leinster replied. “This square will be more like a piazza, a hard surface that can be used all year round.”

It would give the nearby park some breathing room since the new space could accommodate programming like the town’s movie nights; the ice pad could be maintained with refrigeration which takes less effort compared to an outdoor rink and can go beyond what is happening at the park.

“Yonge Street in Aurora is not like other main streets in other municipalities as it is very narrow and accommodates a lot of traffic,” he added. “This space would allow Aurora to do what other towns do on their main streets.”

A local business owner asked how the plan went from being mixed use including retail to a full public space.

Through public consultation conducted over the summer, the largest theme was the demand for a flexible, programmable public space that could be used by the library, Cultural Centre, town and the public for events and programs.

However, that doesn’t mean retail is out of the question as smaller shops or food-and-beverage merchants could be accommodated in the final details.

“Parking is a little bit of a red herring,” Leinster said when asked about parking woes in the downtown core. “Green public space kick-starts development. Nobody ever visited a town for its parking.”

He also pointed out that lack of parking directly beside a venue doesn’t necessarily deter people as overflow parking will end up on the surrounding residential streets. People always find a place to park.

Aurora resident Ron Weese warned Leinster about expecting residents of those nearby streets accepting the influx of vehicles.

“You are going to get some squeaky wheels,” he said.

If a design is approved by council, the next step would be a detailed design phase. He predicts the project is on a two- to five-year horizon.

“This has already been worked on for a year,” he said. “Public spaces take years to develop and I don’t think they have to because you end up going around in circles. We may as well keep the momentum going so we are alive long enough to see it built.”

While this was only the first of five presentations earlier this week, the participants from the Aurora Chamber of Commerce session seemed to lean toward the first option.

The discussion will continue at town hall on Dec. 5. If approved, it will be re-tabled at the Dec. 12 council meeting for final approval before heading into the next design stage.