Interim Branch has Full Lending Capacities, Laptop Loan, Classrooms for Kids’ Storytime and ESOL Classes— as Project to Nearly Double Size of Permanent Library, One of the Borough’s Busiest, Moves Forward
BROOKLYN, NY— The Sunset Park Interim Library is open for patrons, Brooklyn Public Library announced at an opening event this morning, along with Council Member Carlos Menchaca and leadership from the City of New York, the Fifth Avenue Committee, and the Sunset Park community. Photos of the event are available here.
The interim branch, located at 4201 Fourth Avenue at 43rd Street, has been innovatively designed by Leroy Street Studio to meet the need of the patrons at one of the borough’s busiest branches— including laptop loan, classrooms for children’s storytime and English as a Learned Language classes, and a multilingual collection. Primarily housed in a former courtroom and adjacent to the Community Board 7 offices, the library will create a community hub for the Sunset Park neighborhood, and benefit from a flexible design, natural light and high ceilings.
The branch will remain open until the Sunset Park Library at 5108 Fourth Avenue, currently under redevelopment, is able to reopen in 2020. The interim branch was designed by Leroy Street Studio Architecture and features movable shelving and furniture, a program room within the main floor of the library, and a laptop self-checkout station.
The new branch first opened on Monday May 14th and will retain the same hours as the former library -- 10:00 am - 6:00 pm on Monday and Friday, 10:00 am - 5:00 pm on Saturday, and 10:00 am - 8:00 pm Tuesday through Thursday.
“Sunset Park families deserve a library that they can be proud of; we’re thrilled to partner with the Fifth Avenue Committee and the City to soon deliver a modern, bright and big branch for the growing neighborhood,” said Linda E. Johnson, President and CEO of Brooklyn Public Library. “In the meantime, we are grateful to the City for providing us with this space to ensure that Sunset Park continues to have access to top-tier programming and some of the best librarians in the business in a light-filled and inspiring space.”
“Sunset Park is one big step closer to getting the modern and more useful library our community envisioned,” said City Councilman Carlos Menchaca. “Three years ago, when plans were forming for construction of the new library, the need for a temporary site that would be convenient to public transportation, beautifully designed, and configured for visitors’ needs became a top priority. The newly opened interim space at Sunset Park’s historic courthouse gives us everything we wanted and will be staffed by our long-cherished local librarians. I congratulate Brooklyn Public Library for a job well done, and thank everyone who participated in so many workshops and public hearings to make their voices heard. I look forward to using the interim library while the cramped and crumbling old 51st Street branch is completely rebuilt and greatly expanded including 49 new units of affordable housing for Sunset Park.”
"The opening of the interim public library is the first visible sign that the Sunset Park Library and Affordable Housing project, that will deliver a new and expanded 21st century library and 49 units of deeply and permanently affordable housing, is on its way to becoming a reality,” said Michelle de la Uz, Fifth Avenue Committee Executive Director. “FAC is excited to be partnering with Brooklyn Public Library on this innovative project, grateful for the City's support in providing the interim library location and for the community's ongoing engagement as we realize this model project," said Michelle de la Uz, Executive Director of Fifth Avenue Committee.
Developed in partnership with the Fifth Avenue Committee, a nonprofit with nearly four decades’ experience in affordable housing and comprehensive community development, Brooklyn Public Library’s new permanent Sunset Park branch will provide the neighborhood with a modern, state-of-the-art library that is nearly twice the size of the previous facility. It will also bring online 49 new units of deeply-affordable housing, many of which will be reserved for neighborhood residents.
The new Sunset Park library will be 20,755 square feet, with 18,200 square feet expected to be accessible to the public— nearly double the size of the previous branch. It will be outfitted for the modern era, with the collections, technology and flexible space needed to accommodate many uses and serve a large, diverse patronship.
The expansion of Sunset Park Library and the development of deeply affordable housing is especially timely given the growth of the neighborhood. A 2017 study by the New York City Comptroller's office identified a 34% increase in Sunset Park’s population between 1990 and 2014, double the citywide growth rate. The median rent in the neighborhood has grown at a rate (63%) that far outpaces the growth in median income (25%).
The project will create 100% affordable housing for incomes spanning 30 to 80 percent of Area Median Income (AMI) atop the new library branch, with financing from the New York City Department of Housing Preservation and Development. Most apartments will rent for $500 to $1,000 per month, and a portion will be reserved for Community Board 7 residents, city employees, and the physically disabled.
The Fifth Avenue Committee is constructing the eight-story, mixed-use building, including the library’s core and shell, at no cost to Brooklyn Public Library. BPL will fit out the new library for approximately $10 million, using a portion of the proceeds from the redevelopment of its Brooklyn Heights branch. The City of New York will own the library in perpetuity, as it does other library branches.
Elected officials and community leaders praised the milestone:
“Libraries are the beating hearts of communities across the City, and soon Sunset Park will have a new branch to help meet their needs. The City is thrilled that an interim space will be available to serve the community and maintain programming residents enjoy,” said Mayor de Blasio.
“Libraries are hubs of community engagement and learning, and I am pleased that Sunset Park residents will have access to a top-notch interim library space to enjoy while a state-of-the-art permanent facility is under construction,” said United States Congresswoman Nydia Velazquez. "I applaud everyone at the City for prioritizing the needs of Sunset Park’s families and children by developing the warm, innovative and inviting space unveiled today.”
“Our public libraries across Brooklyn serve critically important roles as community spaces for learning, civic engagement, and personal enrichment. As we await the Brooklyn Public Library’s reopening of our bigger and better Sunset Park Branch, this interim site of will meet the needs of local residents — both young and young at heart — by providing expanded access to laptops, facilities for early childhood learning, and a collection that caters to the diversity of its patrons.” said Borough President Eric Adams.
"Our libraries are indispensable community hubs, a second home for people of all ages to learn and grow. That is why I welcome the opening the Sunset Park Interim Library. This step towards the realization of a redeveloped Sunset Park Library means we are that much closer to a renewed community pillar that can accommodate many more neighborhood residents and assist in providing permanent affordable housing,” said New York State Senator Jesse Hamilton. “ I join in celebrating this important step forward, upholding community access to computers, the internet, language services, a first-rate collection of books for all readers, and so much more. Thanks to all the community partners uplifting this indispensable Sunset Park institution."
"It is such a pleasure for me to see an institution like the Brooklyn Public Library collaborating with one of our major not for profit housing organizations to bring both a brand new library and real affordable housing to Sunset Park,” said New York State Senator Velmanette Montgomery. “This model of partnership and responsible use of public subsidies is something I hope will be replicated as we try to meet the housing needs of New Yorkers. I thank the City for providing access to an appropriate temporary space as the project moves forward so residents of Sunset Park can access resources and services without disruption."
“Libraries serve as the community’s hub. They are places where adults and children can access books, educational materials, computers and so many other learning tools. I am pleased that the Brooklyn Public Library will maintain a temporary facility for Sunset Park’s residents while renovations take place at the current facility,” said Assistant Speaker of the New York State Assembly Felix W. Ortiz. “I urge everyone to make use of the temporary facility and to enjoy it.”
“We’re excited to welcome Brooklyn Public Library’s Sunset Park Branch as our new neighbors,” said Cesar Zuniga, Chairperson of Community Board 7. “We commend BPL for the incredible transformation of our historic courthouse building. Our community depends not only on the traditional offerings of a library, like books, but also the essential services and resources. We look forward to a new and vastly improved permanent library.”
More details on the project are available here.
About Brooklyn Public Library
Brooklyn Public Library (BPL) is an independent library system for the 2.6 million residents of Brooklyn. It is the fifth largest library system in the United States with 59 neighborhood libraries located throughout the borough. BPL offers free programs and services for all ages and stages of life, including a large selection of books in more than 30 languages, author talks, literacy programs and public computers. BPL’s eResources, such as eBooks and eVideos, catalog information and free homework help, are available to customers of all ages 24 hours a day at our website: www.bklynlibrary.org.
About Fifth Avenue Committee
Fifth Avenue Committee, Inc. (FAC) is a nationally recognized South Brooklyn based non-profit comprehensive community development corporation formed in 1978 whose mission is to advance economic and social justice by building vibrant, diverse communities where residents have genuine opportunities to achieve their goals as well as the power to shape the community’s future. FAC works to transform the lives of over 5,500 low and moderate income New Yorkers annually so that we can all live and work with dignity and respect while making our community more equitable, sustainable, inclusive and just. To achieve our mission FAC develops and manages affordable housing and community facilities, creates economic opportunities and ensures access to economic stability, organizes residents and workers, offers student centered adult education, and combats displacement caused by gentrification. FAC has developed nearly 900 units of affordable housing, currently manages more than 500 units and has an affordable housing pipeline of more than 1,000 units. For more information about FAC go to www.fifthave.org.