Library Mulls Adding Seven Stories, Affordable Housing to Sunset Park Branch
The Brooklyn Public Library is considering partnering with nonprofit Fifth Avenue Committee to replace its one-story Sunset Park branch library at 5108 4th Avenue with an eight-story building that will house a bigger library as well as affordable rental apartments. There would be 55 units, 54 of which would be affordable and one of which…
The Brooklyn Public Library is considering partnering with nonprofit Fifth Avenue Committee to replace its one-story Sunset Park branch library at 5108 4th Avenue with an eight-story building that will house a bigger library as well as affordable rental apartments. There would be 55 units, 54 of which would be affordable and one of which would be for the building super, DNAinfo reported.
All but 10 of the rentals would be priced at half the current market rates, according to an email DNAinfo received from the Fifth Avenue Committee. Studios would rent for $525 to $750 a month, and three-bedroom apartments would be priced at $796 to $1,249 a month. The remaining 10 units would be aimed at “moderate” income households and would range from $1,000 for a studio to $1,595 for a three bedroom.
The library would increase in size from 12,000 square feet to 17,000 square feet. The library would own its space as a condo; the rest of the building would be owned by the Fifth Avenue Committee. The project would cost about $25,000,000. (Presumably Fifth Avenue Committee would buy the property and finance the construction, minus the cost of the library condo, but the story didn’t go into those details.)
Library officials held a public meeting Monday with Community Board 7 at the library to discuss the plan. What do you think of it?
525-a-Month Studios Proposed for Redevelopment of Sunset Park Library [DNA]
Photo by Kate Leonova for PropertyShark
It’s not exactly the prettiest building right now anyways, and any way to make the cash strapped library system better is great!
Why would anyone be opposed to this? The community gets much needed affordable housing AND a new and expanded library. Win/Win.
The library part is amazing, and so is the housing. However, acknowledging that “affordable” housing often means increased criminal activity and loitering, I just hope that the City and developers, should this project go through, have a plan to ensure that such does not happen as it would decrease the quality of life for those using the library and living in the neighborhood.
Right, Cate. I agree. And this isn’t as problematic as public housing would be, but the “affordable” rates, while a small fraction of the overall proposed available units, do give me pause regarding some of the tenant stock who could move in.
Well, I oversimplified things a bit. But affordable housing, to the extent that this includes low income housing, depresses an area. Lower income individuals move into the area, crime goes up due to lack of income-related opportunities, etc. Just look at many lower income areas in this city and elsewhere.
Oh, I agree with you, especially on the second part of your statement. But, then again, this isn’t something I presume; the statement was clearly directed in response to my comment. I stated that affordable housing “often” leads to higher crime, and then went on to explain that I hope that plans are put in place to ensure that this does not happen with this project.
Well, I’m certainly not inherently opposed to people finding affordable places to live. But, to the extent that such developments will lead to increased crime, I don’t want to live near them. So, in short, yes. I’ve lived in rough neighborhoods where my family had to fear walking the streets (from Baltimore to Bedstuy in the 1980s-late 1990s to Crown Heights in the 1980s); being held up at gun point, being told by your ministers at certain times of the year not to wear certain colors because a certain gang is initiating “that weekend,” living through several shootouts, and generally living through violence and drugs is not something that I want to return to. I don’t want to go back to living like that and am not ashamed to say so.