The new library will be double the size of the previous building. (Friends of the Greenpoint Library)
May 2, 2019 By Laura Hanrahan
The Greenpoint Library, which was demolished two years ago and is currently being developed, is expected to reopen in the fall–about three months later than what was initially scheduled due to construction delays.
Friends of the Greenpoint Library announced the new date during a Greenpoint Library Community Forum held on April 23, Greenpointers first reported. The Brooklyn Library has confirmed the revised opening date, citing construction issues.
The library, located at 107 Norman Ave., was closed for demolition in July 2017, with construction on the new building beginning in October of that year.
The new $20.8 million library was originally scheduled to open in December 2018. The opening, however, was soon pushed to summer 2019 after workers encountered a string of issues involving subsurface asbestos, adverse weather conditions and poor soil composition.
Workers also unexpectedly found old pieces of foundation on the site that belonged to the Carnegie Library, which was located there before the now-demolished Greenpoint Library was erected. This spurred a necessary redesign, a spokesperson for the Brooklyn Public Library said.
There have also been drainage problems due to the soil composition, which has slowed progress.
“Crews have been working hard, including some Saturdays, weather permitting, and we look forward to welcoming the community to the new library this fall,” said a spokesperson for Brooklyn Public Library.
The new library, once open, will be double the size of the original building.
The building will feature solar panels, rainwater cisterns, rooftop rain gardens and open green space, funded by a $5 million grant from the Greenpoint Community Environment Fund. Energy consumption is expected to be reduced by 80 percent and 50,000 gallons of water will be saved each year.
While construction on the building is finishing up, Greenpoint residents can access books from a Bookmobile service on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the corner of Manhattan Avenue and Norman Avenue.
A pop-up library has been set up at the Park Church Co-Op at 129 Russell St., and story-time is being held at the YMCA.
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