Eric Adams and Mamdani Clash Over NYC Art Garden

"New York City's outgoing Mayor Eric Adams has designated the long-embattled Elizabeth Street Garden as parkland, weeks after Mayor-Elect Zohran Mamdani vowed to renew the eviction of the plot to create affordable housing. The move could make it more difficult for Mamdani to build housing on the garden, which supporters considered to be in the clear after the city walked away from its eviction plans earlier this year. In a November 3 letter reviewed by Hyperallergic, Department of Citywide Administrative Services Commissioner Louis Molina said that the city "unequivocally and permanently" dedicated the plot "to public use as parkland." The letter, sent to Parks and Recreation Commissioner Iris Rodriguez-Rosa, said the city's housing authority would transfer management of the property to the parks department upon completion of a licensing agreement."

"The quaint lower Manhattan garden, which houses several Neoclassical sculptures and a notable Gilded Age balustrade, was served an eviction notice last October. As the owner of the plot of land occupied by the garden, the city had planned to construct 123 units of affordable housing for low-income and LGBTQ+ seniors, with construction expected to begin later this year. After several legal challenges delayed the garden's departure, the Adams administration backed down from its eviction pursuit in June and, instead, vowed to build 620 affordable units at three alternative sites in Manhattan."

Outgoing Mayor Eric Adams designated Elizabeth Street Garden as permanent parkland on November 3, a decision that could hinder Mayor-Elect Zohran Mamdani's pledge to evict the garden for affordable housing. Department of Citywide Administrative Services Commissioner Louis Molina stated that the city "unequivocally and permanently" dedicated the plot to public use and that the housing authority would transfer management to Parks upon a licensing agreement. The garden contains Neoclassical sculptures and a Gilded Age balustrade. The city had planned 123 affordable units for low-income and LGBTQ+ seniors, paused after legal challenges, and pledged 620 units at alternative Manhattan sites. Mamdani has said he would evict the garden within his first year.

Read at Hyperallergic