Mayor Eric Adams alongside the New York City Department of Housing Preservation and Development (HPD) and the Brooklyn Public Library (BPL), has unveiled ambitious plans to transform the New Utrecht Library into a state-of-the-art facility, while also adding a new, 100-percent affordable housing development above the library and on an adjacent city-owned parking lot. This initiative falls under the banner of Mayor Adams' commitment to making New York City more family-friendly, which includes creating more affordable homes for inter-generational families and enhancing public spaces such as libraries.
Adams described the project — slated for the New Utrecht branch in Bensonhurst — as a means to deliver not only affordable housing, but high-quality services, and a modern library under one roof. The city's "Living Libraries" program, according to the mayor, is key in combatting New York's housing crisis by combining new libraries and housing, a concept that saw success with its first implementation in Sunset Park. However, to ensure community needs are met, a public engagement process is set to kick off, inviting feedback through questionnaires and a series of workshops and events according to the NYC Mayor's Office. "With our historic ‘City of Yes for Housing’ initiative, we said yes to more housing all across the city, and with ‘City of Yes for Families,’ we are saying yes to keeping families in the five boroughs, year after, generation after generation," Mayor Adams stated.
The redevelopment plan takes a comprehensive approach, encompassing not only the construction of new library and residential buildings but also the promise of uninterrupted library services during construction. This falls in line with Adams' broader housing strategy, which has already seen the creation, preservation, or planning of approximately 426,800 homes to date. Last year, the administration set a record for creating the most affordable rental units in the city's history and facilitated historic numbers of housing connections through the city’s housing lottery.
Mayor Adams' housing manifesto also includes the passage of the "City of Yes for Housing Opportunity," aimed at generating 80,000 new homes over 15 years along with a $5 billion investment in infrastructure and housing. Moreover, tenant protections have been bolstered, with the "Partners in Preservation" program gaining a citywide foothold last year, and the expansion of homeowner support via the Homeowner Help Desk initiative. Showcasing notable progress in housing policy, the administration has garnered tools through the 2024 state budget to further stimulate housing production, like tax incentives for multifamily rental construction and office conversions to housing units, as per the NYC Mayor's Office.
The Bensonhurst community is set to witness the manifestation of a comprehensive urban development strategy, marrying the need for community-oriented public spaces with an urgent demand for affordable housing. Details regarding the project and opportunities for public input will be continuously updated on the project website and through social media channels, maintaining transparency and community involvement throughout the stages of development.
