Queens Public Library And 5pointzlic Developer Reach Tentative Deal For A New Court Square Branch
Jackson Avenue Residential Complex Set to Replace QPL’s Former Home at One Court Square
QUEENS, NY _ Queens Public Library announced today that its Board of Trustees last night unanimously approved the terms of a lease agreement for a new Court Square branch at the 5PointzLIC residential complex at 22-44 Jackson Avenue in Long Island City.
The provisions negotiated with the development’s owner, G-M Realty L.P., include a fifteen-year lease, plus a five-year renewal option, for a 4,500-square-foot space on the building’s second floor. The lease is expected to be finalized and executed in the fall, and the estimated two-year construction project for the library could start as early as next summer. The branch replaces QPL’s location at the former Citi building at One Court Square, which closed in February 2020 following a change in building ownership.
"The board’s vote to approve the terms of the lease for a new Court Square branch is a critical step toward bringing library service back to one of New York City’s most vibrant neighborhoods and providing a welcoming, dynamic space that is open to all for free,” said Dr. Earl G. Simons, Chair of Queens Public Library’s Board of Trustees. “On behalf of my fellow trustees, I would like to thank President Walcott and his team for their hard work and determination to uphold the Library’s commitment to identifying a new space for the branch.”
“We have continuously made clear our resolve to find another site for a library in this ever-growing neighborhood, and we could not be happier about the prospect of reestablishing our presence there,” said Queens Public Library President and CEO Dennis M. Walcott. “As we approach the finish line to a lease agreement, I want to thank the many individuals and organizations who have brought us to this point, including Mayor Eric Adams, Deputy Mayor Maria Torres-Springer, Queens Borough President Donovan Richards, Council Member Julie Won, Community Board 2, and the Department of City Planning. We also are deeply grateful to the local civic leaders and to the public for their unwavering support and advocacy.”
The deal comes as the Adams administration and Council Member Julie Won advance the Long Island City Neighborhood Plan, a comprehensive planning process to develop a vision for the future of the area.
"Our administration is dedicated to providing New Yorkers with the best library systems in the world, and the deal for the new Court Square Branch is proof of our commitment," said Maria Torres-Springer, Deputy Mayor for Housing, Workforce, and Economic Development. "The new Court Square Branch's co-location at the 5PointzLIC residential complex also fulfills our vision for ensuring New Yorkers are close to amenities and necessities. From the FY25 budget's significant investment in the library systems to this announcement, the Adams Administration is doing everything it can to ensure New Yorkers can easily access books, computers, youth resources, and everything else our amazing libraries provide. This project also shows the promise of the Long Island City Neighborhood Plan, as this library, as well as the LIC planning process, can only be completed with the partnership of many parties across levels of government, the private sector, and other civic leaders."
“Long Island City families deserve high quality, state-of-the-art library space — something those living in the Court Square area have been missing for more than four years since their original library’s closure. But I couldn’t be more excited that this local lack of library services is coming to an end,” said Queens Borough President Donovan Richards Jr. “Thank you to all our city and community partners who worked collaboratively to begin restoring library services for these families. I look forward to construction beginning as soon as possible.”
“After years of advocacy, Court Square Library at the 5PointzLIC building is finally moving towards reopening,” said Council Member Julie Won. “Court Square is a rapidly growing neighborhood and this new library will give our neighbors access to countless books, technology, and vital, free programming. I look forward to working with our partners at the Queens Public Library and the City to ensure that this project stays on track and does not experience further delays.”
“As we collaboratively develop the Long Island City Neighborhood Plan, we’ve heard directly from the community about the importance of investing in infrastructure and services like libraries. The re-opening of the Court Square Library reflects our shared commitment to addressing these needs through holistic planning,” said Dan Garodnick, Director of the Department of City Planning. “We look forward to continuing to work together with Council Member Won, Long Island City residents, and community stakeholders to build a more vibrant and inclusive future for LIC.”
“We are excited to have Queens Public Library here at 5PointzLIC, and we are thrilled that the Court Square community will once again have a great library branch,” said G-M Realty President David Wolkoff.
About Queens Public Library
Queens Public Library is one of the largest and busiest public library systems in the United States, dedicated to serving the most ethnically and culturally diverse area in the country. An independent, non-profit organization founded in 1896, Queens Public Library offers free access to a collection of more than 5 million books and other materials in 50 languages, technology and digital resources. Each year, the Library hosts tens of thousands of online and in-person educational, cultural, and civic programs and welcomes millions of visitors through its doors. With a presence in nearly every neighborhood across the borough of Queens, the Library consists of 66 locations, including branch libraries, a Central Library, seven adult learning centers, a tech lab in the nation's largest public housing complex, five teen centers. It also has two bookmobiles and two book bicycles.
Contact: Ewa Kern-Jedrychowska, ekern@queenslibrary.org