Sept. 6, 2013 By Christian Murray
Construction of the Hunters Point Library is likely to be delayed yet again following the city’s inability to find a developer willing to build it for the $28 million that was budgeted.
Councilman Jimmy Van Bramer, speaking at the Hunters Point Civic Association meeting last night, said the city has had to modify the design plans to keep the construction cost below $28 million. He didn’t say what those design changes would be, other than saying they would merely be “cosmetic.”
The library, if all goes to plan, will feature a rooftop terrace with panoramic views of the city skyline, a garden, a gallery, a conference room, a computer center and youth and teen spaces. The 21,500 square-foot facility, which will be built at Center Blvd and 48th Ave (next to Gantry Plaza State Park) , will be largely a glass and cement structure.
Van Bramer did not disclose how much the construction companies quoted to do the initial job.
The revised plan is about to go out for bid. Van Bramer said the city is trying to expedite the whole process so there will be a groundbreaking late fall. The project is expected to be completed by 2015.
