Brooklyn Public Library Says Pacific Branch Is Not For Sale

The Pacific Branch of the Brooklyn Public Library, located at 25 4th Avenue on the corner of Pacific Street, is the first Carnegie library to be built in Brooklyn, a historic fact that many were quick to point out when officials announced plans to sell off the building, potentially to developers who may have knocked it down. But now they’re is saying the building it safe, and that they’ve got no intention of selling it.

Following a petition, some adorable video pleas by local Girl Scouts, and a recent concerned post by the Brooklyn Lyceum (which was designed by the same architect as the Pacific Branch), the site Brooklyn Brief recently looked into the plans for the library, and two Brooklyn Public Library spokespersons said that no, they will not be selling the 1903 building.

And as if to really convince us of that, Brownstoner points out that the library updated its statement:

What will happen to the existing Pacific Library?
While BPL initially planned to replace Pacific with a new library at South Site it has become clear that the neighborhood highly values this historic building and the services the library provides. BPL is committed to working with elected officials and community stakeholders to develop an appropriate plan to maintain the Pacific Street building and address the library’s $10 million capital need. BPL is committed to maintaining library service at the current Pacific Street building. BPL has no plans to sell Pacific Library.

Of course, it’s not just the Pacific Branch that’s in need of some serious TLC — the Central Library, which opened in 1941, is also in bad shape, and requires approximately $100 million in repairs, from replacing the roof to updating the old fire alarm system.