Reaction to plan to put new art gallery, library in Sudbury’s city hall

City councillors in Sudbury had a chance Tuesday to review a proposal to build a new library and art gallery inside Tom Davies Square.

Junction East, as the project is known, was originally planned as a new build downtown, but costs ballooned from $65 million to almost $100 million.

A staff report said moving the Junction inside city hall would cut not only construction costs, but would save taxpayers more than $1 million in annual maintenance costs a new building would require.

Ward 8 Coun. Al Sizer questioned whether the project is still feasible.

"I would like to say that it would be nice to have something, a new art gallery and library and something that's iconic,” Sizer said.

“But on the other hand we have to look at the dollars that's going to cost and sometimes it becomes a want over a need."

The staff proposal comes from a request by Mayor Paul Lefebvre to find a way to cut costs but still achieve the original goals of creating a downtown cultural hub.

Staff looked at other sites in the downtown area but said the empty space at Tom Davies Square makes it the preferred option.

"The potential of creating a real hub in the community, in the downtown area, as well as having all these partners work together," Lefebvre said, of what he likes about the proposal.

“I just feel with the courtyard that is there, this beautiful infrastructure that we have, the beautiful architecture that has aged very well, we need to renew it anyways. So for me it's trying to maximize every dollar that we have and stretch them.”

"If there is vacant space that's not being utilized, especially post-COVID where people are working from home or hybrid models are still happening,” added Ward 1 Coun. Mark Signoretti.

“We need to make sure we can maximize the space we currently have."

The suggestion however is not without questions – including two unsolicited offers from the community. Proposals have been received to locate the gallery in an old brewery or the library to Elm Place.

Staff will be coming to council in September with options that could include some costs to move it into the city-owned building.

For Bela Ravi of the Sudbury Multicultural Folk Arts Association, she’s hoping that years of planning will lead somewhere.

"Well I just want things to move,” Ravi said.

“I appreciate the city's efforts in what they're doing to make this happen but this has been going on for eight years now and we've been a part of this for three years and I'm tired. I can't even imagine the other two partners."

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Demetra Christakos, curator of the Art Gallery of Sudbury, sounded an optimistic note.

"Well, we took it as a positive conversation,” Christakos said.

“We're excited to see that all three partners could fit in Tom Davies Square."

Among that empty space, councillors were told half of the provincial building that makes up the square is empty.

The clock is ticking, however. The art gallery has a settlement agreement with Laurentian University that runs out in May of 2025.