Residents Reject Plan to Enlarge Sunset Park Library With Affordable Housing
Community reaction to the Brooklyn Public Library’s plan to rebuild its Sunset Park branch to add affordable housing and a bigger library was strongly negative at the public meeting Monday, reported DNAinfo. “It smells like gentrification,” said one of the more than 75 locals who attended. Even the executive director of the Sunset Park Business…
Community reaction to the Brooklyn Public Library’s plan to rebuild its Sunset Park branch to add affordable housing and a bigger library was strongly negative at the public meeting Monday, reported DNAinfo.
“It smells like gentrification,” said one of the more than 75 locals who attended. Even the executive director of the Sunset Park Business Improvement District didn’t like the plan.
As reported yesterday, the library would partner with nonprofit Fifth Avenue Committee to build a bigger library, which the library would own as a condo, as part of an eight-story affordable rental building. The structure of the deal is similar to other library and church development plans taking place in Brooklyn, but instead of for-profit development of mixed market rate and affordable housing, it would be 100 percent affordable.
Without commenting on the merits of the plan either way, we think the strongly negative reaction is telling of a shift in public perception of affordable housing. Rampant for-profit development of market rate housing with a small percentage of affordable housing may be tainting public perception of all affordable housing, and turning public opinion against development. Or maybe people just want their libraries to stay libraries. What do you think?
Sunset Park Locals Blast Plan to Add Affordable Units in Library Overhaul [DNA]
Photo by Kate Leonova for PropertyShark
Maybe people are opposed because they know that not having public housing projects are what saved Sunset Park from going totally downhill to begin with! Furthermore, the neighborhood does not need more housing.It is already overcrowded. How about building some affordable housing in the very underdeveloped area along the N line in Borough Park or in Bath Beach, another underpopulated area?
This is the second library “sell building but still get to stay there” plan I read about that met mass opposition. Is there something I’m just not getting? I mean, it’s a library, not a real estate company – wouldn’t no longer having to do upkeep on a building be a positive for the library and community? Less funds needed to maintain the building = more library services. And if the library is guaranteed to remain in that location based on the terms of sale – how are these things not automatically win/wins?
I don’t know. Renters may have a good point. Yes, a larger library would be great for the neighborhood. But, if I was a renter relying on lower income/affordable housing in the area, what use would that library be to me if I’m eventually priced out due to gentrification that is spurred/moved forward by the likes of this project?
I would think there is a valid concern about how long the library may need to close to complete this project but this location has needed a renovation for some time – the AC was broken just about all summer. One of the reasons Sunset is densely populated is because houses are being occupied above their legal use. I wouldn’t think an extra 55 families at actually affordable rates will change much of anything.
Stupidity in tertiary hoods of Bk, what a surprise!
Wonder how big the tower is going to be when the library is even more obsolete than it is now and has to be sold to private investors…
Yes, understood! The neighborhood has improved so much already, though. I lived in Sunset Park at one time and would only go to the library on 73rd St in Bay Ridge, because 51st St/4th Ave was pretty gross. I’m in SP once or twice a month now and I love it, but having visited this library finally last summer, I can say the neighborhood really, really needs a new one.
The water is fine in Sunset Park already, but a new library would be amazing and would improve everything.
Bozos.
East New York – Reading is not your thing is it? The community was going to get a new and expanded library with affordable housing. If those dingbats get their way – they won’t get either. Well played sir, well played.
55 families at 51st and 4th, nobody would ever notice. It’s right on top of a subway station serving a line that has plenty of room for growth. Seems like a PERFECT place for some housing.