BPL unveils seven proposals for redeveloped Brooklyn Heights Library
It was rough sledding Thursday night for Brooklyn Public Library (BPL) officials as they presented seven proposals to re-develop the Brooklyn Heights Branch Library.
Even before Josh Nachowitz, BPL’s VP of Government and Community Relations and Richard Reyes-Gavilan, BPL’s Chief Librarian ran through a Powerpoint with project renderings and details, opponents peppered them with catcalls and angry comments.
“These plans are covering up the slumlord aspect of what the Library did to this building,” audience member Marsha Rimler called out.
“Why won’t you reveal the developers’ names?” others shouted.
Opponents say the city is selling off public assets like libraries for the benefit of private developers, and that “the fix is in.”
“Any accusation that the process is rigged is completely and totally inaccurate,” Nachowitz said. He noted more than 40 hours of public meetings to date, and the process is still in the early stage. “If the fix was in we wouldn’t be here tonight.”
Board treasurer Peter Ashkenazy, who was appointed to the proposal selection committee to represent the public, told the crowd it was counterproductive to start booing before seeing the proposals. The project’s “scrutiny and attention to detail is very impressive,” he said. “It’s a serious process that will result in a better library.”
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