News Summary
The New Utrecht Library in Bensonhurst, Brooklyn is set for redevelopment into a modern facility that will include 100% affordable housing. The initiative, announced by Mayor Eric Adams, aims to address the urgent demand for affordable living options while providing enhanced community resources. The project will involve a community visioning initiative, ensuring local residents can provide input. The current library, which will be demolished, will remain operational until construction begins, aligning with the city’s broader ‘Living Libraries’ program.
Brooklyn, NY – New Utrecht Library to be Redeveloped into Affordable Housing and Modern Library Facility
The New Utrecht Library, located at 1743 86th St. in Bensonhurst, Brooklyn, is scheduled for redevelopment to create a new facility that combines a modern library with 100% affordable housing. The announcement came from New York City Mayor Eric Adams on Wednesday, marking a significant step towards addressing the demand for affordable living spaces while enhancing community resources.
The redevelopment project will be managed by the city’s Department of Housing Preservation and Development in partnership with the Brooklyn Public Library. A request for proposals (RFP) is set to be issued to private developers, inviting project plans for the site, which includes the library’s existing 37,183 square feet and an adjacent city-owned parking lot situated between Bay 16th Street and 18th Avenue.
The property is city-owned and zoned for low-density residential developments, along with community facilities on the lower levels. Developers will have the opportunity to propose changes to zoning regulations, allowing for larger construction projects. Any proposed modifications will be evaluated through the uniform land-use review procedure (ULURP), which involves input from community boards, borough presidents, the City Planning Commission, the City Council, and the mayor.
A key feature of the redevelopment will be the requirement for all new apartments to be categorized as affordable, with specific income brackets and the number of units to be determined later. However, the overall timeline and construction costs associated with the project have not yet been disclosed.
As part of the planning process, a community visioning initiative is set to commence later this fall, enabling local residents to provide feedback and input into the redevelopment plans. The current New Utrecht Library will remain open to the public until the construction process begins, minimizing disruption to community library services during the transition.
The existing library building, a two-story structure built in 1956, will be demolished to make way for the new development. This initiative is part of the city’s broader “Living Libraries” program, which aims to combine affordable housing solutions with modern library facilities to better serve neighborhoods.
This redevelopment follows a successful model previously implemented in Sunset Park, NYC, where a similar co-development of affordable housing and library spaces has taken place. Other “Living Library” projects are also underway in locations such as the Bloomingdale Library in Manhattan and the Grand Concourse Library in The Bronx.
Linda E. Johnson, president of the Brooklyn Public Library, emphasized the importance of the New Utrecht Library project in addressing both the demand for affordable housing and the need for a modern library facility that can better serve the community.
As planning moves forward, residents and stakeholders are encouraged to engage with the process to ensure that the redevelopment meets the needs of those who rely on the library and the surrounding affordable housing options.
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Additional Resources
- New York YIMBY: New Utrecht Library Redevelopment
- Wikipedia: Affordable Housing
- New York YIMBY: Grand Concourse Library Redevelopment
- Google Search: Library Redevelopment New York
- New York YIMBY: Brooklyn Library Project
- Google Scholar: Urban Redevelopment
- New York YIMBY: Bronx Library Plans
- Encyclopedia Britannica: Public Libraries
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