Brooklyn Heights Library Meeting on Monday, March 9, to Discuss Contoversial Sale

A rendering of the project by the developer Hudson Co. Photo courtesy of BPL

A meeting of the Brooklyn Heights Library's Citizens Advisory Committee (CAC) takes place on Monday, March 9 at 6:30 PM in the library auditorium.

The topic will be the sale of the library branch on Cadman Plaza West to a developer, and details about the planned tower. BPL President Linda Johnson will be speaking.

The library sold the branch to developer the Hudson Companies for $52 million. Marvel Architects is the designer.

The BPL says the sale will finance necessary renovations, improve service, and create new housing.

Opponents say: The replacement library will be smaller than what is currently there (thought the library says it will be nicer and it amounts to the same usable space); the Business Library section will move out of the neighborhood; public property will be transferred (yet again) into the hands of a private developer; and the additional residents (from this and a number of other large projects) will cause stress to neighborhood infrastructure like schools.

The Brooklyn Heights Association says about the proposal:

"At the BHA, our board has responded with both concern and cautious optimism to their selection. We believe that the project, as described in the original Request for Proposals, has the potential to make a significant contribution. We want to see a distinctive and welcoming public building that provides a graceful transition from the civic buildings on Cadman Plaza to the residences of Brooklyn Heights and a library that is a visual gateway to the neighborhood."

Hudson/Marvel must provide interim library space during construction of the new library. The interim space will be in Our Lady of Lebanon Cathedral, 113 Remsen Street. 

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