VANCOUVER – A new Downtown Eastside/Strathcona Library branch will include affordable housing for single mothers and their children above the library, the City of Vancouver, Vancouver Public Library and YWCA Vancouver announced today.
“This project will be a wonderful legacy in Vancouver and meets two major City priorities,” said Mayor Gregor Robertson. “It expands social housing for women and children and establishes the first full-service Library branch in the Downtown Eastside/Strathcona neighbourhood, a need our Council has been working with the Library to address for a number of years.” -snip-
Ms. Austin also acknowledged the generous support of the Streetohome Foundation and the Ismaili Muslim community of B.C. -snip-
Samira Alibhai, President of the Ismaili Council for B.C. said: “The Ismaili Muslim community of B.C. has a long history of partnerships with diverse organizations in Vancouver to further the mandate of partner organizations and to give back to the local community. We are pleased to be partnering with the YWCA in this vital initiative to provide women with a foundation for success.”
The full-service neighbourhood Library branch will include: books, magazines, newspapers, CDs, DVDs and electronic resources in multiple languages; opening hours and diverse programming to meet community needs; public access to computers and wireless Internet; and meeting rooms and other public spaces to serve the community.
Building design work will begin in April 2011 and the Library will include construction costs in its 2012 Capital Plan submission to the City. The Library branch and housing is expected to open in late 2014.
Ismailimail 