URGENT UPDATE: The future of the Elizabeth Street Garden in Nolita is in jeopardy as developers behind a controversial affordable housing project have just filed a lawsuit against Mayor Eric Adams. The lawsuit, announced on Wednesday, claims Adams overstepped his authority by designating the site as city parkland to halt the construction of a 123-unit residential building aimed at assisting low-income seniors.
This legal battle comes just days after the mayor’s decision, which aims to protect the green space from future development. The group Haven Green, which has been advocating for the housing project for years, argues that the mayor’s actions constitute “an extraordinary act of executive overreach” intended to derail a project that has already received approval. They assert that any new park designation must undergo the city’s land-use process, which requires approval from the City Council.
The timeline has shifted dramatically since June when the Adams administration initially planned to evict the garden. However, in a surprise turn, officials announced a deal to develop affordable housing elsewhere in the area. Just days after the general election, Adams designated the lot as parkland, effectively complicating any future plans for housing development on the site.
“This project is the product of an exhaustive public process and lawful governmental decision-making that has taken place for more than a decade,” Haven Green stated, emphasizing the lengthy commitment to providing affordable housing. Meanwhile, Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani expressed intentions to support the eviction of the garden during his campaign. However, he now contends that Adams’ designation makes it “nearly impossible” to proceed with the housing project, as major construction on parkland requires state legislative approval.
The pushback from the community has been fierce, with advocates for the garden arguing for its preservation due to its “environmental, cultural, and artistic significance.” In response to the lawsuit, representatives from the garden expressed openness to collaborating with Mamdani’s administration to find a balanced solution.
First Deputy Mayor Randy Mastro previously indicated in June that significant progress was being made towards advancing more than 600 units of affordable housing in nearby areas. He mentioned developers could potentially break ground on one of the new projects by the end of this year.
As this situation develops, the implications for both the Elizabeth Street Garden and the affordable housing crisis in New York City are profound. With the community divided, the coming weeks will be critical as stakeholders await the court’s response to the lawsuit and further actions from city officials.
Stay tuned for further updates on this developing story as the battle over the future of the Elizabeth Street Garden escalates.
