Brooklyn Borough President Eric L. Adams recommendations yesterday to “disapprove with conditions” the controversial three-way deal to sell the Brooklyn Heights Library property so developers can build high-rise luxury housing could put the entire proposal in jeopardy.
The project calls for developer Hudson Companies, Inc to buy both the site and air rights of library at 280 Cadman Plaza West for $52 million and build a new, 36-story tower, which would house a 21,500-square-foot library, retail space and 139 market-rate condos.
Additionally, the developer will build 114 units of affordable housing off-site on Fulton Street and Atlantic Avenue. But Adams sees this as giving away too much for too little in return, considering the needs of the local community and Brooklyn as a whole.
“My recommendations for the future of the Brooklyn Heights Branch, which have been guided by the thousands of Brooklynites whose feedback I have considered in recent weeks, are a blueprint for responsible community development that puts our children and families first,” said Adams.
“Considering this land use application has been about more than one site or one institution; it represents an opportunity to evaluate the direction of development in Brooklyn Heights and ensure that basic services are met and enhanced,” he added.
Specifically, Adams said the project failed to address the dire need to creating additional classrooms at 280 Cadman Plaza West, as well as the impact that new development at the site would have on existing area schools with overcrowding issues.
As such, he proposed building elementary school space within any new building on that site, including a potential annex to PS 8, in coordination with CSD 13, Community Board (CB) 2, and local elected officials.
Adams also rejected the plan for only off-site affordable housing, saying some of the affordable housing generated by the Inclusionary Housing Zoning Floor Area Bonus to be sited at 280 Cadman Plaza West.
Adams additionally used his recommendations to further outline his proposal to incorporate public libraries into the City’s agency structure starting with the Brooklyn Public Library (BPL) becoming an independent agency that would be subject to merger with other library systems pending results of a cost-benefit analysis.
Adams’ recommendations appears to coincide with similar and additional thinking that City Councilman Stephen Levin, who represents the area, has voiced in CapitalNewYork in July.
Taken together, this means the project will become a harder sell when it comes before the City Planning Commission (CPC) as part of their public meeting on Tuesday, September 22. Following that meeting, the matter comes before the City Council, which usually votes in favor of the local city council member’s recommendations.
But BPL officials still believe the proposal is a viable plan and a win-win for both the public and library users.
“The plan for Brooklyn Heights Library is the best and only viable way to deliver a modern new library, $40 million for vital library improvements across the borough and affordable housing within the district,” said BPL spokesperson.
“We are grateful for the support of the Community Board, Brooklyn Heights community organizations and people across Brooklyn who care about the future of our libraries. Borough President Adams has shared his ideas about New York City’s libraries and we will take his feedback into consideration as we continue moving forward with the public review process.”
