In need of at least $230 million for system-wide repairs, NYC libraries, which receive less than $15 million a year from the city, look to strike land deals with private developers, report Joseph Berger and Al Baker.
A relatively new practice of releasing public property assets to private developers with the caveat of preserving public services is picking up speed in NYC.
Cash-strapped public agencies, including the library, school and municipal system, are exchanging land and old buildings for new mixed-use developments that also integrate these former functions, usually on a public ground floor.
Several libraries in Brooklyn and Manhattan have already struck bargains with developers, including with major DUMBO and now Williamsburg player Two Trees, with the first Andrew Carnegie-financed library in Brooklyn slated for demolition.
Some residents object to the plans, which would upgrade ailing public service systems at no public cost, on the grounds that neighborhood landmarks would be lost to high-rise redevelopment and extended closures would make access to public services more complicated during the reconstruction process.
Planning experts, including Mitchell Moss at NYU and David Giles at the Center for an Urban Future, support the financing strategy because it would restore and upgrade public amenities across the board without raising taxes.
FULL STORY: Saving Schools and libraries by giving up the land they sit on
Beating Extreme Heat Through Community Efforts
U.S. cities don't provide residents with enough protection against heat, the deadliest weather-related killer in the world. In New York City, one organization came together to distribute ACs to neighbors in need.
Nearly Half of New York City Burdened by Pollution
Communities of color make up the majority of people harmed by pollution, as well as heat and flooding, says the study, which is New York City’s first comprehensive survey of environmental injustices.
New York City Debuts Roomier Subway Cars
The car design is used throughout Europe and Asia, but it’s a first for the U.S.
What ‘The Brutalist’ Teaches Us About Modern Cities
How architecture and urban landscapes reflect the trauma and dysfunction of the post-war experience.
‘Complete Streets’ Webpage Deleted in Federal Purge
Basic resources and information on building bike lanes and sidewalks, formerly housed on the government’s Complete Streets website, are now gone.
The VW Bus is Back — Now as an Electric Minivan
Volkswagen’s ID. Buzz reimagines its iconic Bus as a fully electric minivan, blending retro design with modern technology, a 231-mile range, and practical versatility to offer a stylish yet functional EV for the future.
Healing Through Parks: Altadena’s Path to Recovery After the Eaton Fire
In the wake of the Eaton Fire, Altadena is uniting to restore Loma Alta Park, creating a renewed space for recreation, community gathering, and resilience.
San Diego to Rescind Multi-Unit ADU Rule
The city wants to close a loophole that allowed developers to build apartment buildings on single-family lots as ADUs.
Electric Vehicles for All? Study Finds Disparities in Access and Incentives
A new UCLA study finds that while California has made progress in electric vehicle adoption, disadvantaged communities remain underserved in EV incentives, ownership, and charging access, requiring targeted policy changes to advance equity.
Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
Planning for Universal Design
Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.
City of Albany
UCLA Lewis Center for Regional Policy Studies
Mpact (formerly Rail~Volution)
Chaddick Institute at DePaul University
City of Piedmont, CA
Great Falls Development Authority, Inc.
HUDs Office of Policy Development and Research