Gore Library and Community Space Redevelopment
Thanks to everyone for being involved. Our new James Cumming Community Centre and Library is open. You can book rooms at the community centre on our website www.goredc.govt.nz
Update #5: Parking and Landscaping
As work continues on the new building, we've turned our attention to the important question of parking and pedestrian access. The new library and community centre allow us to create a pedestrian-friendly environment with outdoor seating and lighting.
We are proposing initiatives to reduce the amount and speed of vehicles in this area. However, we know from the feedback we received during consultation on this project that ease and parking availability are a priority for many residents.
To make it safer to back out of the angle parks, we will narrow the traffic lanes slightlyContinue reading
Update #5: Parking and Landscaping
As work continues on the new building, we've turned our attention to the important question of parking and pedestrian access. The new library and community centre allow us to create a pedestrian-friendly environment with outdoor seating and lighting.
We are proposing initiatives to reduce the amount and speed of vehicles in this area. However, we know from the feedback we received during consultation on this project that ease and parking availability are a priority for many residents.
To make it safer to back out of the angle parks, we will narrow the traffic lanes slightly, improving manoeuvring space.
As well as making this area more user-friendly, we are looking at increasing the number of parks within easy walking distance of the building.
There will also be two parks marked for disabled permit holders and mobility scooter parking near the library’s entrance.
Adding to traffic and pedestrian safety will be a raised crossing area near the library entrance, linking Ardwick Street’s west and east sides. We will have angle parking in Ardwick Street directly outside the building to ensure we meet your expectations. These parks will have a 60-minute time restriction.
You can check out our visual in our new brochure available here.
Update #4: Redevelopment Going Well
The building work on the old James Cumming Wing is progressing as planned, and is expected to be completed by late 2022.
Much of the original interior has been demolished to make way for new internal structures to support the new open layout.
The original main access to the James Cumming Wing will be the Library entrance. Access to the first floor will be via a new internal open staircase and a lift. The end closest to the Senior Citizens will be the James Cumming Community Centre.
The site is managed by Signal Management staff and is closed to the public for obvious safety reasons, but some progress can be viewed from Ardwick Street.
There have been some materials delays to work around, but this is a nationwide situation affecting the building industry, and unavoidable.
Update #3 Tender Awarded for Redevelopment
JC Builders 2020 (formerly Jones and Cooper Builders) has been awarded the main contract to build the new library and community centre.
The company is one of seven Gore businesses awarded over $2.1 million in work associated with the project. Subject to gaining building consent, work was expected to start early next month.
The project sees the transformation of the former James Cumming Wing hall and function rooms into a modern library and community space. The total cost is $7.935 million, a 16.3%increase from projected costs formulated almost a year ago.
For the full story go to our News Feed
Update #2 Redevelopment Work Starts
After months of planning, preliminary work is about to begin on the redevelopment of the James Cumming Wing into a new library and community centre.
Scaffolding will start going up in the next couple of weeks as contractors prepare to remove asbestos from the exterior. About 12 trees and other vegetation around the building have to be pruned or removed to make room for the scaffolding.
For the full story go to our News Feed
Update #1 Gore Library on the Move
The Gore Library will be relocating to the Encounter New Life Church, in Jacob Street (off Hokonui Drive) in April to allow work to start on the new library and community spaces at the James Cumming Wing.
It will close on Friday 16 April and reopen in Jacob Street on Thursday 6 May.
For the full story go to our News Feed
Where it all started
Here's the back story to this exciting project.
We are redeveloping both levels of the James Cumming Wing, including the hall, to make a new home for the Gore Library and new community spaces.
The project involves gutting the interior of the building and creating contemporary, appealing spaces fit for current and future needs. These spaces will not only accommodate our extensive book collection, but also feature community areas for meetings and activities.
The James Cumming Wing and old library have faithfully served our District for almost 50 years. We now have the opportunity to design and build a solution inclusive and easily accessible for everyone.
Get Involved
Last year we asked for your ideas about what you would like to see in the redeveloped library and community hub. This feedback has influenced the draft designs.
Just go to the tab below to see the ideas, comments and photos we received.
We also held community conversation workshops in August. There was opportunity for further community feedback before the design was finalised.
Location
The reason the James Cumming Wing was chosen for the new library, instead of the former site in the heritage precinct, is the amount of space and its central location. The old library was only 760sqm, whereas the total area of the Wing (ground floor and first floor) is 1,700sqm.
The old library would also need a significant amount of money spent on a new roof.
Funding
Our funding partners for this project are:
- $3 million Government 'Shovel Ready' project funding
- $958,000 Mataura Valley Milk development contribution
The Council has also set aside $1.1 million in its 10-Year-Plan to re-roof the library. This money may be redirected to this project.
We expect construction work to begin in early 2021 and finish the following year.
For more information, please read our Frequently Asked Questions.
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Your ideas for our new library and community spaces
almost 4 years agoCLOSED: This brainstormer has concluded. Thanks to everyone who contributed.Thanks to everyone who has provided their ideas. This part of our community engagement is now closed. All the ideas will now be provided to the design team. The next step will be to come back with some draft designs for your feedback.
This is where we invite you to think about what you see yourself doing in a future library and community hub.
We want to hear your ideas and aspirations. You can add digital sticky notes as well as photos, or comment on someone else's ideas.
It is important to register to take part in the conversation. It's quick and easy - just go to our Sign Up page.
You may want to think about things like:
• The location of the library - should it be on the ground floor, first floor or both?
• The location of the community spaces - should they be on the ground floor, first floor or both?
• What makes a great children's library area?
• What makes a library and community space user friendly?
• Should there be a cafe?
• What should we cater for in the community space?
• What do you like about the library that we should retain or enhance?
• What new things do you want to see in the new library and/or community spaces?
• Are there any issues with the former community spaces and/or library we need to know about?
8plus5almost 4 years ago8plus5
Here is a great opportunity to bring the James Cumming Wing into the 21st century. We can have a wonderful library that can cater for everyone’s needs and at the same time have community spaces for the organisations who use the building. Maybe the old library can be converted into a hall 😊
0Stevealmost 4 years agoLots of full length windows on West side to let in sun and light.Create a car park at North end.Include a coffee kiosk.
0Riddings123almost 4 years agoThere is one big failure in these plans, parking ! What’s wrong with the old site- apart from roof ! Plenty of parking.
1Bookwormalmost 4 years agoKeeping the library in it's current location is an accident waiting to happen (being across the road from a busy school/ church car park)
The amount of near misses with traffic leaving the car park across the road while people try to back out of library car parks, and children crossing the roads, as well as an intersection and school buses, this is all a disaster waiting to happen. In fact the school children have already had to leave assembly out a different exit, so as not to see a badly injured woman after an accident. Making a bigger better library that provides more services and attracts more people is a great idea, but not at the current location
1Kiwi444almost 4 years agoDefinitely need to keep 2+ large rooms for hire
There is nowhere else in the community that compares and caters for people to hire community rooms for events, exercise classes, workshops, meetings etc. Make sure you keep them similar sizes and consider sound proofing, the basics, practical. If you have a library next to these community rooms , the library needs to be quiet zone, community rooms could be noisier so keep a foyer or hangout zone in between. The community rooms, and old library were functioning so well and used by so many people so make sure this plan is well thought through and does consider all things... we are a smaller community, not a big city, so don't over capitalise the project or design, but instead keep it practical, low maintenance but modern, so it functions as well in the future as it will today. If you decide to have a cafe in there consider its noise too. I think parking definitely needs considered and on same side of road...lots of young families. Would a cafe be used here enough??? It sounds like a lovely idea, just hope it would be used enough, maybe keep it simple, smaller, people might be inclined to takeaway more and then have a communal hang out zone in between like foyer but inviting and seating etc. where people can eat from cafe or lunchbox/picnic and mingle etc. if they are eating in a zone consider vinyl planks or similar for flooring, kids drop food. I would keep thinking practical in regards to should the library span first and second floors etc...... I’m thinking ground floor for library, most accessible for everyone, I could imagine there are a larger variety of people use a library including people in wheelchairs etc who might need ease of use.... but you’d have the better idea on actual stats of who uses the facility, just make sure you consider that data before making all those decisions. A library would attract more people coming and going so more traffic noise starting and stopping etc. this would change the atmosphere of the existing community rooms there as to date they’ve been fairly quiet with traffic coming and going in evenings etc. for evening activities/hire in those rooms, just put decent blockout blinds or similar in for privacy and that would blockout outside lights etc.
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Landscaping and Parking Details
Landscaping and Parking
Concept Plan Images
Lifecycle
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Community Conversation Opens
Gore Library and Community Space Redevelopment has finished this stage -
Community Workshops
Gore Library and Community Space Redevelopment has finished this stage -
Draft Designs Presented For Feedback
Gore Library and Community Space Redevelopment has finished this stage -
Floor Plan Agreed To
Gore Library and Community Space Redevelopment has finished this stage -
Library Relocation
Gore Library and Community Space Redevelopment has finished this stage -
Detailed Design Completed
Gore Library and Community Space Redevelopment has finished this stage -
Contract Awarded
Gore Library and Community Space Redevelopment has finished this stage -
Demolition & Construction
Gore Library and Community Space Redevelopment is currently at this stage -
Project Completed & Opened
this is an upcoming stage for Gore Library and Community Space Redevelopment
Spaces where community and library meet
Important Links
Who's Listening
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District Libraries Manager
Phone 203-9115 Email lweston-webb@goredc.govt.nz