The Eric Adams administration is attempting to preserve the Nolita sculpture garden as official city parkland before Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani assumes office in January. This move, confirmed by a November 3 letter from city official Louis Molina, aims to prevent the green space—a cherished Manhattan retreat—from being redeveloped for affordable senior housing under Mamdani’s planned policies.
For over a decade, the Elizabeth Street Garden has been at the center of a contentious battle. Advocates, including notable figures like Robert De Niro and Patti Smith, have fought to maintain the space, while opponents prioritize constructing 123 affordable housing units for seniors and offices for Habitat for Humanity. Former Mayor Bill de Blasio first proposed the housing project in 2017, sparking community backlash.
In June, Adams reversed his earlier support for the development, striking a deal with Councilmember Christopher Marte to build 600 affordable units at three alternative locations instead. This agreement, contingent on rezoning approvals, included keeping the garden publicly accessible. Officials now seek formal parkland status to enforce this protection.
Mamdani, however, has vowed to proceed with evicting the garden within his first year to advance the housing initiative. Affordable housing advocates, including Open New York, criticized Adams’s eleventh-hour designation as counterproductive, pledging to work with Mamdani and state leaders to overturn the decision.