It's been more than a year since the first rumblings of a deal to sell the Ottawa Public Library building began. Nothing seems to have happened and patrons still have to worry about the ceiling falling in. Rumours of a new owner brought to life visions of badly needed renovations and upgrades to the rundown building. But those visions are still bogged down under a mountain of red tape and unnecessary political complications as the players in this bungled mess drag their respective heels.
All sides now say they have no real incentive to rush the deal through.
The city isn't in a hurry to sell, Cadillac Fairview isn't in a hurry to buy and the board doesn't seem to care one way or the other. Mayor Jim Watson says the city is concerned about having to rent the space from the private company because it would no longer be in the position to make renovations and upgrades to the building. Watson fails to mention that the much-needed renovations didn't happen even while the library has been under the city's care. A lack of cash has been city officials' main excuse for the shoddy conditions library patrons are now forced to tolerate. The library to this point has had an insatiable thirst for taxpayers dollars and has given little return, officials argue.