A lush public guard building located in the heart of New York City will soon be demolished to make way for an affordable housing building for seniors.
Located in the city’s famed Nolita neighborhood, Elizabeth Street Garden is a volunteer-run community sculpture space known for hosting open-to-all events such as yoga classes, poetry readings, and outdoor film screenings.
Dylan, an eight-year-old New Yorker, described the space: “Everyone put time into planting that garden, and it’s fresh air. If you take away the fresh air, you’re taking years away from you.”
“I hope it stays, because it’s free fresh air, you don’t have to buy it,” the boy said. The New York Times.
Located in the city’s famed Nolita neighborhood, the Elizabeth Street Garden is a volunteer-run community sculpture space known for hosting events open to all, including yoga classes, poetry readings, and outdoor film screenings.
But on June 18, the New York State Court of Appeals ordered the city to proceed with the destruction of the garden in a six-to-one ruling.
Despite the controversial decision, Joseph Reiver, the garden’s executive director, has vowed to continue the fight.
“Our efforts to save Elizabeth Street Garden are by no means over,” He said Artenet.
“We have already appealed the eviction decision and our legal team is working on other options.”
Advocates have also published a proposal to Mayor Eric Adams, asking him to build the housing structures on land at 388 Hudson Street instead of demolishing the garden.
On June 18, the New York State Court of Appeals ordered the city to proceed with the destruction of the garden in a six-to-one ruling.
Advocates have also published a proposal to Mayor Eric Adams, asking him to build the housing structures on land at 388 Hudson Street instead of demolishing the garden.
The manifesto also states that popular New York spots such as Thai Diner, Ruby’s, Jack’s Wife Freda, Plantshed and Eileen’s Cheesecake have shown their support for the proposal.
The fate of Elizabeth Street Garden has been hanging in the balance since 2019, when City Council first voted to approve plans to use the site to build affordable housing for seniors.
Jenny Rivera, daughter of Allan Reiver, the man who created the green oasis, said after the ruling: “The garden is a work of art in itself.”
In 1991, Allan, owner of a nearby antique shop, began leasing the land to the city for $4,000 a month and began the garden project.
The well-meaning entrepreneur planted trees, a lawn, flowerbeds and filled the area with neoclassical stone sculptures and architectural remnants from his gallery, especially marble columns and sphinxes.
The manifesto also states that popular New York spots such as Thai Diner, Ruby’s, Jack’s Wife Freda, Plantshed and Eileen’s Cheesecake have shown their support for the proposal.
Supporters of the Elizabeth Street Garden have also launched a donation page to help them continue their efforts to rescue the much-loved space.
If it is demolished, a private company plans to convert the space into a mixed-use building called Haven Green.
The building will include commercial space as well as 123 affordable studio apartments for seniors.
The developer also intends to designate units for people from the LGBTQ community, as well as formerly homeless people and current residents of the neighborhood.
Supporters of the Elizabeth Street Garden have also launched a Donation page to help them continue their efforts to rescue the space they so love.