Helsinki’s new Central Library to be given the go-ahead
According to Helsinki’s Deputy Mayor for Cultural and Personnel Affairs, Ilkka-Christian Björklund (SDP), a new Central Library will be built in the capital.
Björklund is in charge of a working party appointed by Mayor Jussi Pajunen (National Coalition) to look into the establishing of a new central library.
The group has completed its report, which will be presented to the city leadership on Wednesday next week. At that point the report will also be published, says Björklund.
The tasks of the group covered the funding and construction time of the planned library, as well as potential partners to cooperate in the venture.
While not endorsing any specific location for the new library, the working party has estimated the costs of certain alternative locations. The proposed places include the Railway Square at the central railway station, the Töölönlahti Bay area, Helsinki’s Main Post Office, and the Lasipalatsi complex.
The report is not to be handled by the City Board, but the mayors of the city are to make a decision on how to proceed in the matter. Björklund notes that for example certain problems relating to the schedule of the project need still to be resolved.
The final decision on the establishing of the new library will be made by the City Council. According to a questionnaire conducted by Helsingin Sanomat last year, the majority of the Council members are in favour of the project.
The Helsinki City Library has proposed that the work for the new Central Library should be started soon, in order that it could be completed by 2012, when Helsinki will celebrate its 200th anniversary as the capital of Finland. The accent in "central" is on location, rather than size and scope - the city's main library complex is in Pasila.
Library Director Maija Berndtson estimated last month that the costs for the new library building and plot would amount to EUR 60 to 70 million. The initial cost estimate had been EUR 50 million.
Helsingin Sanomat
|
| 14.5.2007 - TODAY |
 Helsinki’s new Central Library to be given the go-ahead
|
|
