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Buildings Dept. OKs plans for lux tower at site of Brooklyn Heights Library

A new 36-story luxury tower at the site of the Brooklyn Heights Library edged one step closer on Tuesday with the Department of Buildings’ (DOB) approval of plans filed by Marvel Architects.

Hudson Companies is developing the project, which will include a new, smaller Brooklyn Heights branch and ground floor retail.

Marvel’s plans include 34 floors of apartments — including two penthouse floors — exercise rooms, a screening room and other amenities.

The library is located at 280 Cadman Plaza West. Residents will enter the tower at a new address, 1 Clinton St.

Hudson filed demolition plans with the city in late October but DOB has not yet approved them, a Hudson spokesperson told the Brooklyn Eagle on Thursday. DOB approval is needed before the current building can be taken down, though pre-demo work, including asbestos removal, is ongoing.

Hudson has not yet closed on the site, the spokesperson said.

However, Brooklyn Public Library (BPL) and Hudson signed a license agreement to allow asbestos abatement and some demolition work to start prior to closing. Should the project cease for any reason, Hudson is required to restore the site to the pre‐demolition state (minus the asbestos) at its own cost, the company said.

Hudson paid $52 million for the triangular plot of choice Brooklyn Heights real estate. According to the city, the sale will generate roughly $40 million towards $300 million of Brooklyn Public Library’s capital repair needs. As part of the deal, 114 units of affordable housing will be built in Clinton Hill.

The tower’s construction is scheduled to take three to four years. The building is slated to open in 2019-2020.

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http://www.brooklyneagle.com/article...eights-library