City Officials Give Developers a Deadline to Drop Lawsuit Over Elizabeth Street Garden Project as Part of Alternative Housing Deal
In a move that reflects the drastic shift in the city's position on the beloved garden, First Deputy Mayor Randy Mastro has set December 31 as the deadline for developers to withdraw their lawsuit against the city if they want to keep their contract for another housing project. The decision comes after the city offered Pennrose Properties, Habitat for Humanity, and RiseBoro Community Partnership an alternative deal that would allow them to build affordable housing on three sites instead of the Elizabeth Street Garden.
The letter, which was first reported by amNY, states that the developers must drop their lawsuit in order to proceed with one of the new projects at 22 Suffolk St. Failure to do so will result in the city revoking its selection of the contractors and seeking another partner to develop affordable housing on the site.
As the Adams administration comes to a close, it has become clear that the decision to designate the Elizabeth Street Garden as city parkland was not as irreversible as initially thought. Just months after issuing an eviction notice to the garden's nonprofit operator, Mayor Adams announced his intention to drop out of the fight to build housing on the site and instead rezone three other properties for affordable housing.
The move has been met with frustration from developers who had filed a lawsuit accusing the mayor of abusing his executive power. While it remains to be seen whether the developers will meet the December 31 deadline, one thing is clear: the city's stance on the garden has changed dramatically over the past year.
Local leaders and celebrities had voiced their opposition to the project, which would have seen the garden demolished to make way for a housing development. Since then, Mayor Adams has gone as far as to designate the garden as protected parkland in November, following the election of Zohran Mamdani who vowed to evict the garden and move forward with the original plans.
It's unclear whether the developers will choose to negotiate with the outgoing administration or stick to their guns. One thing is certain: the city's decision has provided a lifeline for those who want to preserve the beloved Elizabeth Street Garden, at least for the time being.
In a move that reflects the drastic shift in the city's position on the beloved garden, First Deputy Mayor Randy Mastro has set December 31 as the deadline for developers to withdraw their lawsuit against the city if they want to keep their contract for another housing project. The decision comes after the city offered Pennrose Properties, Habitat for Humanity, and RiseBoro Community Partnership an alternative deal that would allow them to build affordable housing on three sites instead of the Elizabeth Street Garden.
The letter, which was first reported by amNY, states that the developers must drop their lawsuit in order to proceed with one of the new projects at 22 Suffolk St. Failure to do so will result in the city revoking its selection of the contractors and seeking another partner to develop affordable housing on the site.
As the Adams administration comes to a close, it has become clear that the decision to designate the Elizabeth Street Garden as city parkland was not as irreversible as initially thought. Just months after issuing an eviction notice to the garden's nonprofit operator, Mayor Adams announced his intention to drop out of the fight to build housing on the site and instead rezone three other properties for affordable housing.
The move has been met with frustration from developers who had filed a lawsuit accusing the mayor of abusing his executive power. While it remains to be seen whether the developers will meet the December 31 deadline, one thing is clear: the city's stance on the garden has changed dramatically over the past year.
Local leaders and celebrities had voiced their opposition to the project, which would have seen the garden demolished to make way for a housing development. Since then, Mayor Adams has gone as far as to designate the garden as protected parkland in November, following the election of Zohran Mamdani who vowed to evict the garden and move forward with the original plans.
It's unclear whether the developers will choose to negotiate with the outgoing administration or stick to their guns. One thing is certain: the city's decision has provided a lifeline for those who want to preserve the beloved Elizabeth Street Garden, at least for the time being.
! "Drop our lawsuit or we're outta here!" Meanwhile, I'm over here thinking, "Can you believe these guys thought they could just bulldoze a garden in SoHo? 
I mean, it's not like NYC has better things to do than preserve a pretty park."
Dec 10: The data says 80% of NYC residents support preserving the Elizabeth Street Garden! 
And it's not just the garden itself, but also the community that's formed around it. Did you know that over 50 local businesses rely on the garden for foot traffic? 
It's a win-win for both the environment and the economy! 
By the way, have you seen the stats on affordable housing in NYC? We need an average of 200 units per month to keep up with demand. 
they were gonna build housing there but now they're offering pennrose properties an alternative deal to build affordable housing elsewhere instead of demolishing the garden 
and if they don't take it their contract will be revoked lol what a nightmare for them i feel so bad for the garden tho i've been meaning to visit it for ages and now it's like the city is finally listening to its fans 
. I mean, can you imagine that iconic garden just getting torn down? 
The way it was initially portrayed as a potential housing site had me super concerned. It's great to hear that the city is now backing down and recognizing its importance to the community 
. It'll be fascinating to see how they choose to respond. I'm also curious to know what this means for the future of affordable housing in the city 
.
. The fact that Mayor Adams has reversed his stance on the garden is a testament to the power of public pressure and community activism 
. Fingers crossed that this new development leads to more positive changes for the city! 
. at the same time, I get why devs are salty - they probably put a lot of effort into this project. idk if the city's decision to drop out was the right move tho 
... on one hand, it's awesome that they're rethinking their stance and trying to find alternative solutions 
. but on the other hand, what about the ppl who actually live in the garden? shouldn't their voices be heard too? 
its not like they got ripped off or somethin...they knew what dey were signin up 4 when dey took on dis project 
and now dey wanna play hardball? newsflash: ur gonna have to swallow ur pride and drop da lawsuit or face da consequences 
! I'm so glad Mayor Adams changed his mind and decided to go with the alternative deal 
. Fingers crossed that the developers will drop their lawsuit by Dec 31, or else we might see some more drama 
#SaveTheGarden #AffordableHousingMatters #NYC Parks
That shift in policy is definitely a reflection of the community's outcry.
... This whole thing is teachin' us that sometimes, the best option is to let go of what you thought was non-negotiable 
. The city had to pivot and adjust their plans, but by doin' so, they're creatin' a win-win situation for everyone involved 
.
the fact that mayor adams changed his mind and now its protected parkland is literally a dream come true 
i'm so grateful to zohran mamdani for speaking up and fighting for what's right 
still kinda weird that there was even a lawsuit to begin with tho
I feel like there are so many mixed emotions going on here... on one hand, it's amazing that the city is trying to find an alternative solution and give affordable housing options to people in need 
. And poor Elizabeth Street Garden... it's been such a beloved spot for so many people, and now we're seeing this back-and-forth about whether or not it'll stay as a park 
i mean, who would've thought mayor adams would actually listen to the community & do the right thing for once?