City Seizes McKinley Park Library Building For “Public’s Good”
“City officials officially seized the McKinley Park public library branch (6802 Fort Hamilton Parkway) Monday – using the power of eminent domain – after failing to strike a deal with the library’s owner to purchase the property, reports the Commercial Observer.
As we reported in March, the Brooklyn Public Library (BPL) offered the building’s owners $2.4 million to buy the building, which is among just seven out of the city’s 60 public library branches that are privately owned.
Previously, the city rented the property for $20,000 per month from private trust run by an Arizona bank, but that lease expired in June. The bank was trying to raise the location’s rent to market rates to an amount beyond the library’s means.
The power of eminent domain allows the city to seize a property for the public’s good. In the request, the city said wrote that over the building would ensure “the continued operation” of the Dyker Heights location, which is in need of significant repairs. The owner of the library will be paid “fair market value.””
Silberstein, Rachel. Bensonhurst Bean 5 December 2014.