As New York City explores every option to ease its housing crisis, officials are looking to build mixed-income housing atop a new library branch on the Upper West Side. As first reported by West Side Rag, the city plans to raze and replace the Bloomingdale Library at 150 West 100th Street and build a new library, health services facility, and 850 units of housing. The project follows the model of other co-located housing developments at public libraries in Sunset Park and Inwood.
The proposal was first unveiled during Mayor Eric Adams’ 2025 State of the City address, which the mayor touted as “the largest co-located library project in NYC history.” The proposal builds on an executive order issued last August that directed city agencies to identify publicly owned sites suitable for housing development.
The EDC representative told West Side Rag that the Bloomingdale Library site “was identified as having high potential.”
Construction is still years away, with the EDC estimating work will begin in 2028 and wrap up by 2031. Before then, the project must go through the Uniform Land Use Review Procedure (ULURP) process. The city expects to begin that process, as well as an environmental review, after selecting a developer, which is currently slated for 2027.
The EDC has begun public engagement for the project, releasing a survey available in both English and Spanish.
“This is exactly the kind of project that the city has a history of executing well, and if we do this right, we’ll end up with a beautiful new library, a healthcare facility, and truly affordable housing,” Council Member Shaun Abreu, who represents the neighborhood, told West Side Rag.
“Getting input from the community early will be key to making this project a success.”
The current library is expected to remain open until construction begins, after which it will relocate to a temporary site for the duration of the project.
In addition, the EDC is partnering with the city’s Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, which currently uses 160 West 100th Street—on the same site—for a food safety training course that certifies food service employees. The building also houses administrative offices for the department’s Family and Child Health programs.
The original Bloomingdale Library branch opened in 1826 at 206 West 100th Street as part of the New York Free Circulating Library system. In 1831, it became part of the New York Public Library. Although the original building still stands and is landmarked, the branch relocated to its current site in 1960. Most recently, the building underwent renovations in 2021 to improve accessibility, update infrastructure, and add new amenities.
Once complete, the project will join two other recent developments that combine public libraries with affordable housing. In November 2023, the city’s first 100% affordable housing development with a library opened in Sunset Park. A second, similar development debuted in Inwood in June 2024.
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