The long-running fight over the Elizabeth Street Garden in Lower Manhattan could soon be coming to an end, as the city and developers work toward a settlement that would preserve the garden while allowing affordable housing to be built nearby.
Recent court documents show the city and developers are trying to reach a deal that would move a planned senior housing project from the garden’s site to a city-owned lot at 22 Suffolk St., according to reporting by Gothamist.
The nearly block-long parcel is at the corner of Grand Street, about three-quarters of a mile from the garden.
“It’s an amazing space here. There’s really nothing like it anywhere else that I can think of in New York City,” said Matt Polazzo, who frequently visits the garden.
The city first selected developers in 2017 to build affordable housing for seniors on the garden’s lot. The proposal sparked years of demonstrations, protests and lawsuits from activists, actors and neighborhood residents seeking to preserve the roughly 20,000-square-foot green space.
“Obviously we need more housing, that’s clear, but also green spaces are really important. You wouldn’t pave over Central Park, right? So, if you can keep a really great space like this and also get more housing for people who need it, it seems like a win-win for the city,” Polazzo said.
The future of the garden became more complicated last November, when then-Mayor Eric Adams moved to make the property dedicated parkland. The designation makes the green space fully accessible to the public and prevents affordable housing from being built there without approval from the state Legislature.
Mayor Zohran Mamdani, who had supported building housing on the site during his campaign, criticized Adams’ decision at the time, saying it would make it nearly impossible for his administration to follow through on plans to build affordable housing, particularly for seniors.
Under the potential agreement, developers would instead build more than 180 affordable homes at 22 Suffolk St.
A spokesperson for the mayor’s office told NY1, in part, that the city is “moving forward to deliver over 180 affordable homes at 22 Suffolk Street” and “continuing to work toward a resolution of the lawsuit initiated under the previous administration concerning the Elizabeth Street Garden site.”
Some nearby residents welcomed the potential agreement.
“I’m very happy because I’ve lived in the neighborhood for 35 years and I’ve seen all the trials and tribulations that the garden has gone through,” said Kerry, who lives nearby. “It really is like a secret oasis.”
But not everyone is satisfied with the proposed alternative location.
Natasha Rodriguez, who lives on the block, said she is glad there is still a plan to build housing but questioned whether Suffolk Street is an appropriate location for seniors.
“Our older people deserve to live in neighborhoods where they don’t feel like they’re going to be assaulted,” Rodriguez said.
The parties are expected to reach a settlement in the lawsuit sometime this week.