Recap: New Utrecht Library

December 17, 2025

Brooklyn, NY — On Tuesday, December 16, 2025, New York State Senator Chan and Assemblyman William Colton hosted a town hall at FIAO | Il Centro Community & Fitness Center, 8711 18th Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11214. The town hall was concerning the redevelopment of the Brooklyn Public Library - New Utrecht Branch at 1743 86th St. at, Bay 17th St, Brooklyn, NY 11214. This town hall was a followup after the a "community visioning" event hosted by the city government just a few weeks prior.

During the town hall, residents were given the opportunity to voice their concerns and ask questions regarding the proposed library development. Many constituents expressed that the city’s initial informational session felt disorganized and appeared to be framed in a way that favored advancing the project rather than facilitating an open, balanced discussion. Residents repeatedly raised concerns about the added strain the development could place on existing community infrastructure. In particular, they cited unresolved issues related to sewage capacity, public transportation reliability, and the ability of nearby local amenities to accommodate increased usage.

Senator Chan asked the room

Who here wants the library to stay as it is?

To which, almost all participants at the town hall raised their hand.

"How many people want to keep the library as it is?"

Both Senator Chan and Assemblyman Colton have reiterated that they remain committed on advocating and representing the neighbors and constituents that live and work in this district.

The current proposal by the city's Housing Preservation & Development (HPD) agency has a proposal of a building spanning close to 400 units and more than 10 stories high. Senator Chan has stated that he'll be asking HPD to redevelop its proposals.