City Housing Agency and BPL celebrate milestone in Utrecht Library project to build brand-new public library
Brooklyn, NY The New York City Department of Housing Preservation and Development (HPD) and Brooklyn Public Library (BPL) have began their search for a development partner to create a brand-new library alongside 100% affordable housing at the location of the existing New Utrecht Library and adjacent city-owned parking lot. HPD and BPL are releasing a competitive Request for Proposals (RFP) after a months-long community engagement process that identified priorities for the new development.
This project advances the goals set forth in the Mamdani Administration’s newly released housing plan, Block by Block: The Housing Plan for a New Era, which includes leveraging city-owned land for the development of affordable housing co-located with public assets like libraries.
The Site:
New Utrecht Library is located at 1743 86th St. in the Bensonhurst neighborhood of Brooklyn, next to a New York City Department of Transportation municipal parking lot that will also be part of the project. The site is located around the corner from the 18th Ave. D train station. The existing library, which is owned by the city, was built in 1956 and has served the surrounding community for 70 years.
The existing New Utrecht Library has millions of dollars of postponed maintenance needs, and parts of the branch are in a state of disrepair. The redevelopment is made possible by the inclusion of 100% affordable housing and provides a once-in-a-generation opportunity to design a brand-new library, built from the ground up, with design, layout, and programming that reflects community priorities.
“The New Utrecht project demonstrates HPD’s commitment to unlocking the full potential of public land throughout our city with partners like Brooklyn Public Library,” said Michael Sandler, deputy commissioner for Neighborhood Strategies at HPD. “By investing in affordable housing and a brand-new library in Bensonhurst, we can advance our housing goals while delivering vital neighborhood resources that will serve the community for generations to come.”
“Today at our New Utrecht branch, we are taking the first steps towards building a modern library for the 21st century,” said Linda Johnson, president and CEO, Brooklyn Public Library. “Paired with affordable housing, this new building will provide Brooklynites with shelter, knowledge, and community for generations to come.”
Before the RFP: Robust Community Engagement
The process of bringing new affordable homes and a new public library to this publicly owned land began with a robust community engagement process and culminated with the creation of a Community Visioning Report. The community visioning process included an in-person workshop at New Utrecht Library attended by over 100 community members, tabling events and flyering around the neighborhood with materials available in Chinese, Spanish, Russian, and Arabic, as well as meetings with the Community Board, Friends of New Utrecht Library group, and other local stakeholders.
“The New Utrecht Library has long served as a vital resource—offering a space for learning, connection, and community,” said city council member Alexa Avilés. “I’m proud to support the City’s partnership with the Brooklyn Public Library to pursue a long-overdue renovation of this beloved institution, alongside the development of new affordable housing in my district. At a time when our city is facing a severe housing crisis and cuts to vital services, this project represents a meaningful step forward. I remain committed to working with HPD and local stakeholders to ensure we deliver a project that reflects the needs and values of South Brooklyn”
Over 320 New Yorkers responded to the project questionnaire, and while there were many different visions for the site, certain priorities emerged for the new library, affordable homes, and other potential community amenities on the site, including:
Housing for all groups, especially through programs that Bensonhurst residents and community members are eligible for, including seniors and households with children.
Housing for a range of incomes which reflect the surrounding community.
New library with flexible, efficient spaces and modern infrastructure. Strong support for increasing programs and book collections.
Interest in outdoor green space, indoor recreation, arts and culture.
The Planning Process
HPD and BPL’s competitive RFP marks a significant milestone in the project, which will include a brand-new library at the location of the existing branch that is at least the same size as the current branch.
HPD and BPL are requiring RFP respondents to assume a rezoning for the site that will maximize affordable housing and the footprint of the new library, while being responsive to community feedback and resulting in a development that is responsive to the surrounding neighborhood and context.
New Utrecht Library will remain open to serve the public until construction begins. The City and BPL will ensure critical library services are not interrupted during construction.
Recent Public Site Developments
This project is part of HPD’s efforts to create affordable housing on publicly owned land.Under the Mamdani Administration, HPD has made progress developing land across the city, including:
Completing the city’s first ELURP for 351 Powers Ave., a disposition of City-owned land that will create approximately 84 affordable homes.
Breaking ground on Timbale Terrace, a 100% affordable, mixed-use development that will deliver 341 affordable homes and a new community arts center to East Harlem.
Announcing the Neighborhood Builders Fast Track, an expedited process to speed the delivery of affordable housing on City-owned land.
Launching community engagement for the Fulton-Howard West Affordable Housing and Community Services RFP in Bedford-Stuyvesant, which will transform the Bed-Stuy Multi-Service Center (MSC) and adjacent City-owned lot into hundreds of affordable homes, brand-new space for existing organizations in the MSC, and new community amenities.