Photo Courtesy of Councilman Ulrich
Queens Borough President Donovan Richards (l. to r.), Councilman Eric Ulrich, Queens Public Library President Dennis Walcott, Assemblywoman Jenifer Rajkumar, Community Board 9 First Vice Chair Sherry Algredo.
By Forum Staff
The Woodhaven branch of Queens Public Library, which opened its doors in 1924 and was the last Carnegie Library built in Queens, will soon receive a major capital improvement, Councilman Eric Ulrich (R-Ozone Park) recently announced.
Ulrich announced the 2022 New York City budget fully funds the library’s reconstruction. Ulrich appropriated $1.5 million in capital funding and $4.1 million in capital funding in conjunction with Council Speaker Corey Johnson for the project. In addition, Queens Borough President Donovan Richards, Jr. secured $1.5 million. The total cost of the renovation exceeds $25 million.
Courtesy of Bade Stageberg Cox
Courtesy of Bade Stageberg Cox
The project will entail a comprehensive renovation of the library’s interior. It will feature a new children’s room, a new teen room, and new adult reading rooms. The upgrade will also make library more accessible by adding automatic door openers, new interior elevators, new restrooms, and ADA compliant ramps.
“Libraries serve everybody – old and young, rich and poor. They’re part of the fabric of our communities. They bring people together. That’s why I thought it was so important to ensure that my last budget as a Council Member included a major upgrade to the Woodhaven branch of Queens Library,” said Ulrich. “I am particularly grateful to Speaker Johnson and Borough President Richards for their support in ensuring this project received the funding it needs. I also thank Queens Library President Walcott and his team for their tireless efforts to bring superb libraries to our community.”
The project will also include upgrades to the exterior of the facility. The project will replace all aluminum windows with historically-authentic windows of the same size as the original design. The exterior will also feature a new roofing system and additional masonry work.
“As a result of Council Member Eric Ulrich’s leadership, a full renovation of this historic branch will now be possible,” said Queens Public Library President and CEO Dennis Walcott. “He has been a strong supporter of Queens Public Library during his years in office, and I thank him, Mayor Bill de Blasio, NYC Council Speaker Corey Johnson and Borough President Donovan Richards for their commitment to delivering a first-class library to the Woodhaven community that will offer an inspiring, welcoming space and greater access to free information and opportunity.”
“As the first elected official from Woodhaven in a generation, I am grateful for this much needed infusion of capital funds into the Woodhaven Library. The new children’s room and teen room will foster a lifelong love of reading in the youth of Woodhaven. The complete renovation of the library will create a support space for job seekers and entrepreneurs,” said Assemblywoman Jenifer Rajkumar (D-Woodhaven). “Libraries are as much a part of our city’s infrastructure as any street or subway, and today our elected officials recognize this with an unprecedented amount of capital funding for our beloved community library.”
