Library Lovers Fight to Block Luxury Condos

In a last-ditch effort to save the old Brooklyn Heights Library from being turned into new library with a 36-story luxury condo tower on top of it, a group called Love Brooklyn Libraries is suing New York City, Brooklyn Public Libraries and other entities, The Brooklyn Eagle reports.

After hearing arguments in her chambers, State Supreme Court Justice Dawn Jiminez-Salta is expected to render a judgment on the legal challenge within 60 days. Hudson Companies plans to replace the Brooklyn Heights Library with a condo tower that includes a smaller library on the ground floor and below ground. As part of the deal, Hudson will also build 114 units of affordable housing in nearby Clinton Hill, a lab for a local school district, and a small library branch in DUMBO.

In court papers, Love Brooklyn Libraries is challenging the project’s assessment under the State Environmental Quality Review Act, including inadequate assessment of how the project will affect the already high volume of local traffic.