Ian Aviles cannot get sufficient books. A lot that the primary -grader reads on the third grade degree. “I learn him earlier than when he was a child,” mentioned his mom Migelina Miner. His kindergarten trainer requested about Ian’s expansive dictionary. “Why does Ian know phrases that I did not even study?” I’m like, “We reside on the highest of the library,” mentioned Gia Miner.
It’s true. Mi -Miner and her son reside within the library and residences of Sundown Park in Brooklyn, which opened in 2023 with the residential half constructed above the library. The primary library on this place was opened in 1905 and it continued till 1970, when it was demolished. A brand new open openings in 1972, though it wanted a number of love over time.
Mihuirer remembers him effectively. She has lived within the neighborhood for 20 years and has been going to the library from a young person. “It was darkish, very, very darkish and small,” she mentioned. “Generally they did not have the ebook you’re on the lookout for.” When she was all in favour of felony justice, she wished to test reference books for the police academy’s exams. “They did not have them,” she recollects.
By the point her son was born, the constructing wanted a repair-on a damaged air conditioner and an outdated electrical system to call solely two. The Brooklyn Public Library couldn’t afford the required work. Thus, he partnered with the Committee of Fifth Avenue, a non -profit objective, to renovate the library and add 49 items of houses at reasonably priced costs.
In an effort to qualify to reside within the constructing, Da Minier needed to have an revenue between 30 and 80 p.c of the common revenue within the space, which is $ 86 380 when she utilized. The variety of items consists of eight residences that make the most of a program for subsidizing part 8 primarily based on the mission and 9 residences put aside for households and individuals who’ve beforehand had homelessness.
“I didn’t notice that this could be a constructing on high of the library,” Da -Miner recalled. “I assumed they might simply renew the library and that is it. However then the constructing got here and I used to be like, “Oh, I’ve to use for it.”
For the primary time, he was not making an attempt to attempt his luck in a residential lottery. “I had greater than 38 purposes. However this one ought to have been. “She was chosen by 60,000 candidates.
The residence through which she and her son moved have two bedrooms. For the primary time, the 6-year-old and 34-year-old have their very own room. “Think about,” she mentioned, “33 years outdated, dwelling with another person with out having your personal area.” This place is a blessing. “
$ 1350 Sundown Park, Brooklyn
Miguelina Minier, 34
Career: Non -Revenue Financial institution Relationship Supervisor
Concerning the reputation: Since D -Ja Miner knew so many individuals within the neighborhood by way of the work she does, she not often occurs to come back out with out being acknowledged. “Each time I stroll down the road, I hear,” Hello, Migelina. Hello, good day, good day, good day – because the president, she mentioned, laughing.
On Leaving New York: Though D -Ja Miner hopes that she and Ian keep within the residence for years to come back, she generally wonders what it could be wish to reside in a home. “I wish to have a yard the place I could make a barbecue,” she mentioned. “My son tells me he needs to have a trampoline to leap and I wish to give him that.”
D -jai Miner, born within the Dominican Republic, got here to United International locations as a toddler and its dwelling situations have at all times been tight. “I am from a international nation,” she mentioned, “and once you come right here you do not have your personal area. Though you’re 13, 14, you continue to sleep with a cousin or another person. Ian, thank goodness he is , which I’ve by no means had.
Ian, born in Sundown Park, grew up in crowded residences for the primary few years of his life, so getting his personal room was sufficient to excite him from this transfer – and that was earlier than he knew concerning the library under. “It got here later,” mentioned G -Mieneur. “When the library was about to open, we had the chance to take a tour of the tenant library. When he noticed this, I defined to him, “We’re the primary to see the library as a result of we reside from above.” He was like, “Oh, Mother. Oh God, oh God! ”
If it relies on Ian, he and his mom would go to the library day by day. “I’m the one who’s like,” Not immediately, Ian, Mother is drained – come one other day, “mentioned Gi Miner. Nevertheless, they do not less than 3 times every week.
Miyinier reads to Ian on occasion, however these days he reads it from his favorites because the Pete The Cat sequence and “Do not let the dove drive the bus!”
When her son is at school, D -Ja Miner spends his personal time within the library. It really works from residence and it’s helpful to have entry to library work areas.
“They’ve chargers,” they are saying, “they’ve Wi-Fi to attach and even have plugs to attach your machine. To me personally, the library means rather a lot. All workers are very, very helpful. You ask them for any useful resource, and they’ll assist. “
Minier is working for a non -profit financial institution that offers entrepreneurial girls, lots of whom reside within the neighborhood. “The work I do is specializing in the individuals we generally see on the prepare, promoting Churros or promoting chocolate, or generally you see them on the road, promoting mango and issues like that. We give a small mortgage to assist them begin their enterprise. “
The perfect a part of the job is to see a change in its neighbors. “Once they ship me a message they usually say,” Hey, Migelina, look, now I’ve my very own Churros cart, “I’m glad as a result of it’s one thing they obtain, the identical as me come from one other nation and have achieved one thing. “
It isn’t simply Wi-Fi and the books and the quiet area that the library gives to Mrs. Minier and her son. That is additionally satisfaction. On a latest journey together with his classmates to the close by Ian fireplace station, he had the chance to level out the library. “He instructed all his buddies,” I reside there. I reside on the high of the library. “
Above, he instructed them, is the place he has his personal room with a shelf for each ebook he checks.
