Despite facing eviction last month, the Elizabeth Street Garden in Manhattan will remain open at least until February, as confirmed by the nonprofit that manages it.
Located at the intersection of Little Italy and Soho, the garden is currently involved in a prolonged legal dispute with the city, which owns the land and intends to construct affordable housing for seniors there.
Recently, a judge postponed the eviction while an appeal is pending; this case is set to be heard during the February 2025 term. Tensions escalated last month when an eviction notice was issued on October 2, requiring organizers to leave within 14 days.
However, this timeline was extended by two weeks on October 16, and last week a judge granted a stay of eviction.
Joseph Reiver, executive director of the garden, expressed cautious optimism among supporters. We anticipate that the city will continue its aggressive stance—they have been relentless so far—but this gives our community renewed hope, he stated in a phone interview on Sunday. Many visitors have reached out to express their gratitude for having additional time in the garden.
Opponents of the garden argue that it was not open to public access until around ten years ago when plans for affordable housing began emerging from City Hall. City spokesperson William Fowler asserted that the city remains committed to its mission.
This ongoing struggle is about securing essential housing for some of our most vulnerable residents. He noted that while over 2,100 seniors are currently residing in shelters, those advocating for Elizabeth Street Garden can take comfort knowing they’ve delayed the construction of affordable housing and public green space for several more months.
Reiver indicated that this stay allows organizers extra time to explore alternative proposals they wish to submit to city officials; they have already pinpointed two other potential sites within the same district suitable for housing development.
His group communicated via Facebook on Friday that both the Mayor and First Deputy Mayor still have opportunities to collaborate with them on creating private site proposals without imposing any costs on local residents.
The mayor’s office has yet to respond to requests for comment regarding these developments.
This article has been updated with remarks from a City Hall representative and further details about Elizabeth Street Garden’s location.