Mamdani to Abandon Plan to Replace Elizabeth Street Garden With Housing
After more than a decade, the fight over an effort to build affordable housing on the site of a community garden in Manhattan is winding down.
The city of New York is set to abandon plans to demolish the popular Elizabeth Street Garden in Manhattan's Soho neighborhood in favor of affordable housing, according to a statement from the non-profit that manages the garden. The garden, operated by the non-profit with city ownership, has become a beloved public space in Soho, hosting events and attracting high-profile visitors.
The administration of Mayor Zohran Mamdani faced significant opposition from garden supporters, including the garden's founder and his son, Joseph Reiver, who led the effort to protect the garden. After nearly a decade of legal battles, the garden has been protected in perpetuity, with more affordable housing to be built nearby at 22 Suffolk Street.
This resolution comes after Mamdani's mother, filmmaker Mira Nair, expressed disagreement with his stance on the garden's preservation.
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