OPINION: BHA responds to Heights Library redevelopment plan
The Brooklyn Heights Association (BHA) is responding with concern and cautious optimism to the Brooklyn Public Library’s (BPL) selection of Hudson Companies/Marvel Architects for redevelopment of the Brooklyn Heights Branch of the Brooklyn Public Library.
We believe that the project, as outlined in the original Request for Proposals (RFP), has the potential to make a significant contribution — if the developers and BPL trustees will take the time to re-evaluate their design, and engage in an open process with the broader library and civic center community.
The current design gives no indication that the building houses an important civic institution — the 21st century descendant of the legendary Carnegie Libraries. Instead, what we are seeing is a clunky condominium sitting atop generic retail space. We want to see a distinctive and welcoming public building that provides a graceful transition from the civic buildings on Cadman Plaza to the residences of Brooklyn Heights — a library that is a visual gateway to the neighborhood.