Updated Plans For Affordable Units Over Inwood Library: Report

INWOOD, NY — An update for the new Inwood Library was recently announced by the three major organizations overseeing the construction of the revamped branch.

The New York Public Library, along with the New York City Department of Housing Preservation and Developments and the New York City Housing Development Corporation are banding together to create a 100-percent affordable housing property over the public library at 4790 Broadway, according to New York Yimby.

The 14-story building will be called The Eliza in honor of Eliza Hamilton, Alexander Hamilton's wife, and also include a preschool and a variety of community facilities.

Fogarty Finger Architecture and Andrew Berman Architect are the design team for the new Inwood Library, and you can check out renderings of the planned designs — here.

The library will exist on the first three floors, and 174 affordable units will sit above it.

The units will be eligible for individuals earning between $20,040 and $40,080 per year and families earning between $25,770 and $51,540 per year, city officials said. Twenty percent of the units will be reserved for families of up to three earning less than $26,000 per year, and an additional number of apartments will be reserved for formerly homeless residents, city officials said.

The new 20,000-square-foot library is expected to open in 2023. The longstanding Inwood Library at the same address was demolished on May 24.

The library will also be home to a 6,8000-square-foot universal pre-kindergarten facility operated by the New York City Department of Education. Additionally, The Community League of the Heights and the Children's Village will manage an activities, culture, and training center to help kids with science, technology, engineering, and math.

“As New York City prepares for its next chapter of recovery and renewal, it is critical that its social infrastructure—including and especially public libraries—be as strong as possible to meet the changing needs of the New Yorkers who rely on their services,” New York Public Library president Anthony W. Marx told New York Yimby. “This project will do just that: it will give the people of Inwood a great new library that will be as beloved as the one we are replacing but offer even more space, collections, and programs.”

You can read the full New York Yimby article about the new plans for the Inwood Library — here.