Councilman Levin Questions Brooklyn Heights Library Redevelopment

The proposed redevelopment/expansion of the Brooklyn Heights library branch may have won approval from the local community board, but it's not out of the woods yet. It still needs approval from the City Council. The key vote will come from the local councilman, Steve Levin, who says he might oppose the project if crucial changes aren't made to the development model. His main issue: the city's plan to sell a public asset to a private developer, Capital New York reports. He believes it's a philosophical issue. He wonders if selling off the land and air rights to 280 Cadman Plaza West for $52M, to build a new library/residential tower on the site, is the best use of city property. The redevelopment plan calls for the buyer, Hudson Cos, to build a 36-story tower featuring a 21.5k SF library, 139 market rate condos, 114 affordable housing units and retail space. A large portion of the sale's revenue would allow the library network to provide other branches with a cash infusion. But Levin wants more. The Democrat wants a new school for the neighborhood, which is underserved in that department due to the area's gentrification boom. He also expressed interest in having the developer pay a mandatory prevailing wage to unionized construction workers on the project. The plan won approval from the local community board after a contentious debate. The developer plans to complete the project (assuming it clears the approval process) by spring of 2020. [CapNY]