Hudson Companies Navigates Public and Private With Brooklyn Heights Library

Developer Hudson Companies continues to navigate the tricky waters of public/private development. Last night, Hudson’s controversial plan for the current site of the Brooklyn Heights library branch was approved by Community Board 2, in a vote of 25 to 14.

In theory, Hudson’s proposal for Brooklyn Heights would wed public benefit with private profit — using the current library site to develop market rate condos while also providing a better library branch in Brooklyn Heights, much-needed funds for capital improvements at other branches, and 114 units of affordable housing in Clinton Hill.

CB2’s approval to recommend the plan isn’t the final word. The office of the Brooklyn Borough President has scheduled an August 18 hearing at Borough Hall, and more approvals and hearings with the City Council and Planning Commission will follow.

@cb2brooklyn public meeting about the new Brooklyn Heights Library. @stfrancis @bha pic.twitter.com/Tw0RiAy5ms

— susannah drake (@schurchilld) July 15, 2015

The razor-tense situation as #CB2 prepares to vote to sell the #BrooklynHeightsLibrary #NotForSale! @TishJames pic.twitter.com/M7DkbfPRrV — Patrick Conway (@psconway) July 15, 2015

 

CB2 meeting on Brooklyn Heights Library sale.

 

A video posted by Nikhita Venugopal (@nkvenugopal) on Jul 16, 2015 at 5:08am PDT

#CommunityBoard2 voted to approve sale of #BrooklynPublicLibrary in #Brooklyn Heights. #SunsetPark #Library is next! pic.twitter.com/EXnMS1qaw9

— Dennis Flores (@DennisFlores) July 16, 2015

Community Board Approves Redevelopment Plan for Brooklyn Public Library Branch [NYT]

Rendering at top right of proposed library tower via Hudson Companies