In one week more than 1,500 people have signed a petition to turn an empty lot outside of the Queensbridge Houses into a community garden. Resident Lashawn Marston started the efforts five years ago but encountered several road blocks along the way including a fence put up around the space. Most recently he turned to social media to energize the effort and now after NY1 reached out to the Housing Authority the adgency says it plans to connect with him to start the garden. "The garden will give young people something to do, depending on what we're growing with the plants, the flowers, it can create economy. We can have young people harvet stuff, deliver stuff, so it will transform the dynamic of the community," said Marston.  He went on to say he's glad the project is finally moving forward. NYCHA's community gardening program was temporarily suspended because of the pandemic, but it's expected to resume operations soon.