New York Construction Report staff writer
New York City officials have opened a public process to redevelop the New Utrecht Library in Bensonhurst and build affordable housing at the site.
Mayor Eric Adams, Housing Preservation and Development Acting Commissioner Ahmed Tigani, and Brooklyn Public Library leaders announced Thursday that the library at 1743 86th St. will be rebuilt as part of the city’s “Living Libraries” program. The project also includes plans for new housing on the library site and an adjacent municipal parking lot.
The library, which sits near the 18th Avenue D train station, needs significant repairs. City officials said the redevelopment will modernize the facility and address the city’s housing shortage.
As part of the process, the Adams administration and the library system will hold workshops, tabling events, and meetings with community boards and local stakeholders. A questionnaire, available online and in print, will collect input from residents. Feedback will be incorporated into a “community visioning report” that will guide a request for proposals from developers.
The city has used the library-and-housing model before, most notably at the Sunset Park branch, where a replacement library and affordable housing complex opened in 2023. Similar projects are underway at libraries in Manhattan and the Bronx.
Construction at New Utrecht is not expected to begin until after the engagement process and developer selection. Library officials said the branch will remain open during planning and that services will continue through construction.
The project is part of Adams’ broader “City of Yes for Families” initiative, which aims to create more family-friendly housing near community facilities such as schools, parks, and libraries.
