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Gerson Says BPC Library Funding Is Secure
“That extra money is guaranteed,” Gerson told the committee and New York Public Library officials March 5. Interior construction of the library, which will be housed in the ground floor of the River House Building being built at Murray Street and North End Avenue, was to be funded entirely by a $3.5 million donation from Goldman Sachs in exchange for CB1’s support of its massive new office building in the neighborhood. In the nearly four years since that gift was negotiated, construction costs have grown significantly. But, according to Gerson, the rising costs of the construction should not delay the library work. He told the committee and library officials that his request for $1.725 million for the library in next year’s city budget will be approved, and the money should become available in July, around the time the unfinished space will be turned over to the library for construction. What is missing at this point is books. “Where the real shortfall exists in terms of money needed but not definitively available is the $1 million for the book acquisition,” said Gerson, who helped negotiate Goldman Sachs’ funding for the library. “That’s clearly very important.” Gerson recommended the library apply to the Lower Manhattan Development Corporation for a grant from its Cultural Development or Community Development funds. Failing that, the library could try to secure money from the city’s capital budget for 2010, but Gerson cautioned that could be difficult. “Going forward, city budgets are going to be very very tight,” he said. “Better to first go to the LMDC.” At Gerson’s recommendation, CB1’s Battery Park City Committee passed a resolution supporting LMDC funding of the library’s books. If all goes well, Battery Park City’s first public library could open its doors to readers as early as the summer of 2009.
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