A New York Court of Appeals judge has temporarily suspended the city’s controversial eviction plans for Elizabeth Street Garden, the green space in Nolita that has been at the center of a legal case since 2021. The suspension will remain in effect until October 30th, giving local residents and visitors a bit more time to enjoy its greenery.
However, the future of the land remains uncertain. According to Joseph Reiver, the garden’s director, the city is determined to move forward with the housing project, despite more than one million letters sent to Mayor Eric Adams, urging him to halt the plan.
The urban garden has garnered support from prominent figures like Robert De Niro, Martin Scorsese, and Patti Smith, who have voiced their opposition to the decision to transform the space into a housing complex. New York’s Department of Housing Preservation and Development (HPD) plans to convert the publicly owned land, leased since 1991, into a building called “Haven Green,” which will provide 123 affordable housing units for LGBTQ+ seniors and other vulnerable groups. The project will include open spaces and intergenerational programs, with the goal of addressing the city’s growing housing crisis.
Last May, Civil Court Judge Richard Tsai ruled that the park must be vacated by September 10 and ordered the non-profit organization managing it to pay $95,500 in back rent. However, garden supporters filed an appeal and launched a campaign to stop the project.
Despite this, Mayor Adams and HPD officials remain committed to advancing the project as quickly as possible. The mayor emphasized that while the garden is a pleasant space, providing housing for those in need is a higher priority.
Meanwhile, City Councilman Christopher Marte is trying to mediate a compromise to relocate the project to another site, believing that alternative solutions exist that could satisfy both sides.
The dispute continues. A city hall spokesperson reiterated that protecting the garden has delayed the city’s efforts to build housing for years, at a time when New York is facing a severe housing emergency.
