The New York Public Library’s massive renovation project has been given the thumbs-up by a city environmental review and as well as a state review, the library announced on its website Tuesday.
The city has pledged $150 million to the project, and began an environmental review of the renovation plans last spring. This week, the city issued “negative declaration” – a vote of confidence that the project would not be bad for the environment – library executives said in the announcement.
The state’s Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation also gave its approval to the project, according to the library’s announcement, the Wall Street Journal reported.
The planned renovation at 455 Fifth Avenue still has to contend with two lawsuits as well as mayor-elect Bill de Blasio’s call for a financial review of the project. An earlier plan to demolish the book stacks had been scrapped, following public outcry.
“Of course, while these are important developments, what’s most critical to our users is that we develop both a program plan and a design for the renovated 42nd Street Library that truly transforms the visitor experience,” the library said in the statement. [WSJ] – Hiten Samtani