As Joseph Reiver waters the plants at Elizabeth Street Garden he worries about the future of the beloved neighborhood fixture.
The garden is a city-owned property and the city wants to use the space as affordable housing for seniors. For years, the non-profit that manages the garden has tried to argue the space is a necessity. It filed a lawsuit in 2019 and is awaiting a decision from the court, but leadership says the Department of Housing Preservation and Development has notified them their lease has been terminated as of October 31.
“They’ve been trying to go around it and they’re basically trying to evict the garden before there’s a decision from the court,” said Reiver, the executive director of the garden.
Reiver’s father built the space in 1991 and it became the community garden it is today. It’s one of the few green spaces in the area. That’s why Reiver believes the city should look elsewhere for affordable housing.
“Community gardens, I think especially in the times of COVID and in the time of climate emergency. It’s so clear how much we need spaces like this. To gather, to have that sense of community because New York got hit hard,” said Reiver.
Many of those who came to spend their Saturday morning here agree.
“It would be devastating to be taken away from us. Taking away the good green space that we have. It’s a hidden gem. People start their Saturdays and Sundays,” said Manhattan resident Sammy Roy.
Reiver says he acknowledges the need for affordable housing, but says it shouldn't be a pick and choose situation if there are other free spaces around the city to use.
“We shouldn’t be forced to choose between a community garden and affordable housing, especially when you don't have to,” said Reiver.
In a statement, a spokesperson for the Department of Housing Preservation and Development said, “We have worked diligently to strike a balance between the need for low-cost housing for seniors with maintaining New York’s vibrant open spaces, which is why we recently negotiated with the neighboring site to nearly double the planned public space for the community while also creating affordable housing for the seniors who need it most.”
They added that seniors living in the Little Italy District have been badly hurt by the affordable housing crisis.
A venmo fund has been set up for anyone willing to donate to the garden’s legal battle as they await the court’s decision.
“We hope that they see the value of this space and the need for it and also see through the illusion of affordable housing versus community garden because it's really not that. It’s really about how we achieve both in a better, more productive way” said Reiver.
Advocates of the garden are holding a rally on Sunday.