The new Sunset Park Library opened in November 2023. The historic project, the first of its kind in New York City, established a new development model under which the creation of 100 percent affordable housing is paired with new and expanded public library facilities. Read the press release announcing the opening of Sunset Park Library.
At 12,200 square feet, the previous branch was too small and too outdated to meet the needs of the patrons who depend on its collection and services. Sunset Park Library required more than $6 million in repairs and had no reliable air conditioning. There were only 12 electrical outlets available to patrons, and too much of the library’s space was unavailable to the public.
At over 20,000 square feet, the new Sunset Park branch is nearly twice as large as the previous one. The new library is everything that the previous one was not: bright and comfortable, with an open, flexible design and up-to-date technological infrastructure. Its essential components, including the HVAC system, are brand-new. And the building is topped by permanently affordable housing.
Our partner in the Sunset Park Library project, the Fifth Avenue Committee paid for the core and shell of the new, expanded branch. BPL was responsible for outfitting its interior, using proceeds from the redevelopment of Brooklyn Heights Library.
Interim Library
Interim library service was provided at 4201 Fourth Ave (at 43rd street), in space made available by the New York City Police Department.
Community Engagement Summary
This report contains themes that emerged from this stage of the Sunset Park Community Engagement:
The Sunset Library Report
To ensure that the new Sunset Park Library best serves the needs of its users, BPL engaged residents, organizations, policymakers, service providers, and other key stakeholders in a participatory design process.