Outgoing Mayor Eric Adams has effectively blocked plans by incoming mayor Zohran Mamdani to build affordable housing at the Elizabeth Street Garden site in Nolita. According to Crain’s, Mamdani said on Thursday, “the actions that the Adams administration has taken now make it nearly impossible to follow through” with plans for housing at the location. The use of “nearly impossible” leaves open a slight possibility that a housing project could still be attempted.
Last week, Adams designated the contested site as parkland and transferred ownership to the Parks Department. City Hall stated that this move had been under consideration since June. For any development to proceed after this designation, action would be required from the state Legislature.
The decision has drawn criticism from several officials. Governor Kathy Hochul commented on Wednesday that she would seek parkland alienation for the site in order to “undo this pathetic, lame-duck move.” Andrew Fine, chief of staff at Open New York, added: “With this disgraceful final act, the Adams administration is once again prioritizing elite comfort over affordable homes for vulnerable elderly people.”
Earlier in May, Adams had supported an affordable living project that aimed to create 123 units of senior housing at Elizabeth Street Garden but delayed eviction while First Deputy Mayor Randy Mastro reviewed the plan. In June, however, his administration canceled those plans and instead announced an agreement with Councilmember Chris Marte to rezone three other sites intended for 620 affordable units. Two of these locations do not yet have developers attached, making their completion uncertain.
The abandoned project was a partnership between Habitat for Humanity’s regional affiliate, Pennrose and RiseBoro Community Partnership. They faced significant legal challenges in their effort to build Haven Green but were ultimately unsuccessful. Sabrina Lippman, CEO of Habitat for Humanity’s regional affiliate, told Crain’s: “I think what they did undermines what the City of Yes is all about. And it sets a really dangerous precedent for other affordable housing developers.”
— Holden Walter-Warner
