The Eagle reports that New York State Supreme Court Justice Dawn Jiminez-Salta dismissed a suit by community group Love Libraries, Inc., headed by local resident Marsha Rimler, that sought to enjoin demolition of the existing Brooklyn Heights Branch of the Brooklyn Public Library and its replacement with a high rise residential and commercial building that would house a new library branch in part of its lower floors. Justice Jimenez-Salta ruled that the plaintiffs’ claims that the city’s environmental review of the project’s impact on traffic, noise, air quality, and shadows lacked merit because the city demonstrated that the review “took a hard look at areas of environmental concern and contained reasoned elaborations of its conclusions.” She also ruled that the suit was barred by the statute of limitations.
The Eagle story quotes city spokesperson Austin Finan: “We are pleased that the court recognized that this suit had no merit. Now, a project that has undergone extensive public review, which will include a number of benefits to the community including more affordable housing, can proceed.” The Eagle tried to contact the attorney for Love Libraries, Inc. but, as of publication of the story, had received no response. A source close to the matter told your correspondent that he believes an appeal is likely.
Photo: C. Scales for BHB.
