Future

Sunset Park’s branch of Brooklyn Public Library (BPL) was becoming overcrowded and in a state of disrepair. The community wanted a library space that allowed for growth and met standards for public space. A longstanding proposal formed between BPL and the Fifth Avenue Committee (FAC) suggested the demolition of the public library and the transferring of the land to FAC. They would then develop an improved and expanded library space and build six floors of affordable housing units on top. FAC would then sell the library space back to the city for $1 while retaining ownership of the building.

Residents of Sunset Park resisted the sale of their public library building to a non-profit. Protesters gathered outside the library and outside the Community Board 7 meeting room. In early 2017, the sale of the library to FAC was complete and plans moved ahead for demolition and construction. The new library will soon be open with 49 units of permanent affordable housing.

The new Sunset Park library is located at 372 51st Street, almost 21,000 square feet, nearly twice as large as the previous one. Designed by Mitchell Giurgola, the library will occupy the cellar, the first floor, and nearly half of the second floor of the 8-story building. The remaining six and a half floors are dedicated to affordable apartments. According to Giurgola’s website, it “... will be everything that the previous one was not: bright and comfortable, with an open, flexible design and up-to-date technological infrastructure. Its essential components, including the HVAC system, will be brand-new.”

Process and Preparation

BPL worked with Hester Street and Grain Collective to gather feedback from residents and other stakeholders, where it was focused on both the design of the new space and the programming within Sunset Park’s new library. They have hosted:

1. Two public workshops: 100 participants (plus 25 children) gave opinions on challenges in the current branch and shared perspectives of design, programs, and overall culture

2. 13 meetings (with stakeholders)

3. Collected 400 surveys

4. Hosted four focus groups (between July and August): Focus groups were organized to ensure that population groups not present during the large workshops could also engage

Through these conversations, they have found that the community emphasises community gathering and programming as they do on library books and materials, and the new space will require flexibility to accommodate many uses.