The lease for the current Merritt branch location comes to an end in March 2025. Due to the new lease proposed, which included an increase to occupancy costs and other restrictions that present challenges for the library, we have been unable to reach an agreement with the landlord at the current location and had to make the difficult decision not to renew at the 149 Hartzel Road location.
After an extensive search supported by a real estate professional and City staff, we determined the Niagara Pen Centre was the only viable option. Factors considered in our search include floor loads, accessibility, cost, square footage, and timing. Additionally, the Niagara Pen Centre is easy to access by bus and by car for customers living in Merritton and Western Hill.
Building a new library branch requires long-term planning with all stakeholders and is subject to a number of factors, such as budget, time, logistics, and land availability.
Working with the Niagara Pen Centre, we were able to secure a favourable multi-year lease. The cost of renovations to the space while partially supplemented by the Niagara Pen Centre will come from the SCPL reserves.
Our goal is to maintain the current location until the new location is open. We are hopeful to be able to open the Niagara Pen Centre location early summer.
Our current Merritt branch staff will be moving to the new location! Staff will be provided with training and support to offer the best customer experience possible in the new location.
A move to the Niagara Pen Centre will allow us to maintain the current size of our Merritt branch collection. Plus, we will be able to offer improved programming and public study spaces.
We’re working on it. But, stay tuned for updates!
