June 10, 2026

First public site Request for Proposals released by HPD under the Mamdani Administration will deliver a new library and more than 200 affordable homes

NEW YORK, NY – Today, the New York City Department of Housing Preservation and Development (HPD) and Brooklyn Public Library (BPL) announced their search for a development partner to create a brand-new state-of-the-art library alongside 100 percent affordable housing at the location of the existing New Utrecht Library and adjacent city-owned parking lot in Brooklyn. HPD and BPL are releasing a competitive Request for Proposals (RFP) after a months-long community engagement process that identified priorities for the new development.

This project advances the goals set forth in the Mamdani Administration’s newly released housing plan, Block by Block: The Housing Plan for a New Era, which includes leveraging City-owned land for the development of affordable housing co-located with public assets like libraries.

"The New Utrecht project demonstrates HPD’s commitment to unlocking the full potential of public land throughout our city with partners like Brooklyn Public Library,” said Michael Sandler, Deputy Commissioner for Neighborhood Strategies at HPD. “By investing in affordable housing and a brand-new library in Bensonhurst, we can advance our housing goals while delivering vital neighborhood resources that will serve the community for generations to come."

The Site

New Utrecht Library is located at 1743 86th Street in the Bensonhurst neighborhood of Brooklyn, next to a New York City Department of Transportation municipal parking lot that will also be part of the project. The site is conveniently located around the corner from the 18th Avenue D train station. The existing library, which is owned by the City, was built in 1956 and has served the surrounding community for 70 years.

The existing New Utrecht Library has millions of dollars of postponed maintenance needs, and parts of the branch are in a state of disrepair. The redevelopment is made possible by the inclusion of 100% affordable housing and provides a once-in-a-generation opportunity to design a brand-new library, built from the ground up, with design, layout, and programming that reflects community priorities.

“Today at our New Utrecht branch, we are taking the first steps towards building a modern library for the 21st century,” said Linda E. Johnson, President and CEO, Brooklyn Public Library. “Paired with affordable housing, this new building will provide Brooklynites with shelter, knowledge, and community for generations to come.”

Before the RFP: Robust Community Engagement 

The process of bringing new affordable homes and a new public library to this publicly owned land began with a robust community engagement process and culminated with the creation of a Community Visioning Report. The community visioning process included an in-person workshop at New Utrecht Library attended by over 100 community members, tabling events and flyering around the neighborhood with materials available in Chinese, Spanish, Russian, and Arabic, as well as meetings with the Community Board, Friends of New Utrecht Library group, and other local stakeholders.

“The New Utrecht Library has long served as a vital resource—offering a space for learning, connection, and community,” said City Council Member Alexa Avilés. “I’m proud to support the City’s partnership with the Brooklyn Public Library to pursue a long-overdue renovation of this beloved institution, alongside the development of new affordable housing in my district. At a time when our city is facing a severe housing crisis and cuts to vital services, this project represents a meaningful step forward. I remain committed to working with HPD and local stakeholders to ensure we deliver a project that reflects the needs and values of South Brooklyn”

Over 320 New Yorkers responded to the project questionnaire, and while there were many different visions for the site, certain priorities emerged for the new library, affordable homes, and other potential community amenities on the site, including:

• Housing for all groups, especially through programs that Bensonhurst residents and community members are eligible for, including seniors and households with children.
• Housing for a range of incomes which reflect the surrounding community.
• New library with flexible, efficient spaces and modern infrastructure. Strong support for increasing programs and book collections.
• Interest in outdoor green space, indoor recreation, arts and culture.

The Planning Process 

HPD and BPL’s competitive RFP marks a significant milestone in the project, which will include a brand-new library at the location of the existing branch that is at least the same size as the current branch.

HPD and BPL are requiring RFP respondents to assume a rezoning for the site that will maximize affordable housing and the footprint of the new library, while being responsive to community feedback and resulting in a development that is responsive to the surrounding neighborhood and context.

New Utrecht Library will remain open to serve the public until construction begins. The City and BPL will ensure critical library services are not interrupted during construction.

Recent Public Site Developments  

This project is part of HPD’s efforts to create affordable housing on publicly owned land. 

Under the Mamdani Administration, HPD has made progress developing land across the City, including:

• Completing the city’s first ELURP for 351 Powers Ave., a disposition of City-owned land that will create approximately 84 affordable homes.
• Breaking ground on Timbale Terrace, a 100% affordable, mixed-use development that will deliver 341 affordable homes and a new community arts center to East Harlem.
• Announcing the Neighborhood Builders Fast Track, an expedited process to speed the delivery of affordable housing on City-owned land.
• Launching community engagement for the Fulton-Howard West Affordable Housing and Community Services RFP in Bedford-Stuyvesant, which will transform the Bed-Stuy Multi-Service Center (MSC) and adjacent City-owned lot into hundreds of affordable homes, brand-new space for existing organizations in the MSC, and new community amenities.

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The New York City Department of Housing Preservation and Development (HPD) is the nation’s largest city housing agency, responsible for the creation and preservation of affordable housing as well as enforcing the housing and maintenance code across all five boroughs. From responding to over 600,000 housing complaints to financing nearly 15,000 new affordable homes and connecting more than 25,000 New Yorkers with affordable housing, HPD’s work touches every corner of the city’s housing landscape.

Brooklyn Public Library is one of the nation’s largest library systems and among New York City’s most democratic institutions. Providing innovative library service for over 125 years, we support personal advancement, foster civic literacy, and strengthen the fabric of community among the more than 2.6 million individuals who call Brooklyn home. We are a global leader in the fight for the freedom to read through our Books Unbanned initiative, offering teens across the US access to the library’s online catalog. We provide nearly 65,000 free programs a year with writers, thinkers, artists, and educators—from around the corner and around the world. And we give patrons millions of opportunities to enjoy one of life’s greatest satisfactions: the joy of a good book.

HPD’s Office of Neighborhood Strategies is charged with ensuring that HPD’s development and preservation efforts are guided by meaningful community engagement and coordinated with public investments in infrastructure and services, as put forth in the Mayor’s Housing Plan. The Office leads the City’s efforts to transform public sites into affordable housing and vibrant community spaces. Through an inclusive, community-driven approach, the team guides every stage of pre-development—from early visioning and public engagement to releasing Requests for Proposals (RFPs) and selecting development partners. The Office also leads the agency’s commitment to strategic preservation and development through engagement with and resource provision to tenants, landlords, community leaders, and neighborhood stakeholders to create vibrant neighborhoods anchored by affordable housing. Focused on equity, sustainability, and long-term affordability, the team ensures new projects reflect neighborhood priorities and strengthen communities across all five boroughs.