Reminder: Public Hearing Nov. 3 on Proposed Demolition of Existing Sunset Park Library

SUNSET PARK, BROOKLYN — Community Board 7 will host a public hearing on Nov. 3 to discuss the proposed demolition of the current Sunset Park Library, to be replaced by an affordable apartment building with a new, publicly-owned library inside.

The meeting will take place at 6 p.m. at the CB7 office, located at 4201 4th Ave. (though visitors enter around the corner on 43rd Street).

The proposed library project is being led by the Fifth Avenue Committee and the Brooklyn Public Library.

In order to move forward, the project must go through the city's Uniform Land Use Review Procedure Application (ULURP) process. The Fifth Avenue Committee filed a ULURP application in September, which gives CB7 60 days to offer an opinion on the matter.

The Nov. 3 hearing, which is open to public comment, will inform that decision, explained CB7 district manager Jeremy Laufner, who said he expects the full board to vote on the proposal in November.

According to the BPL, the existing Sunset Park Library library — located at 5108 4th Ave. and one of the ten busiest branches in the borough's library system— requires $6 million in basic repairs and isn't modern enough to adequately serve its users.

The Fifth Avenue Committee has proposed purchasing the property and constructing a 50-unit affordable housing apartment building at the site. At least half of those units would be prioritized for CB7 residents.

The Committee says the new library to be built inside the building would be owned by the city. It would be 20,000 square feet, compared to the 12,000-square-foot size of the current branch, and would feature modern amenities.

During the multi-year construction process, the BPL has proposed running a temporary library out of the former police station at 4201 4th Ave. While the space would less than half the size of the current branch, the BPL says it will still be able to provide library services and run a range of programming at the space, including GED tutoring, laptop loans and immigration assistance.

However, the overall project has already faced protests organized by Citizens Defending Libraries, a Brooklyn-based group which has been fighting the redevelopment of BPL sites for years.

Pictured at top: the proposed future affordable building and new Sunset Park Library. Rendering courtesy of the Brooklyn Public Library.