I am writing in response to the letters in the Gazette recently suggesting that the library be moved from its current location in downtown St. Albert to the location of the recently closed Target store in St. Albert Centre. I believe this to be an absolutely awful idea! Our downtown should be a centre of culture and ideas – a place that attracts folks from all walks of life. What could be more appropriate than our library? We need more downtown features like the Arden theatre, the library and La MusĂ©e HĂ©ritage, not fewer.
Every Saturday, from May through to October, my family walks downtown to the market and as often as not the library is a stop on our trip. It is wonderful that the library is right there, front and centre, where it should be! The last place I would wish our library to be relocated would be in the middle of a shopping centre accessible primarily by vehicle.
This relates to other letters and articles that have been published in the Gazette over the past few months regarding different groups and individuals plans/dreams for our downtown core. I agree we can do better to ensure a vital downtown, but removing attractions like this are not the answer. We need more unique stores. We need to figure out a better solution to parking needs than to leave the large core area between Perron and St. Anne nothing but a large parking area. We do not need more government downtown, nor do we need more business offices. Fewer of both! What we need are boutique stores, cultural venues and cafes! It is our downtown St. Albert! Let’s let council and the business community know what we want it to be!
John-Paul Zonneveld, St. Albert
