Mayor Eric Adams has officially designated the Elizabeth Street Garden in Little Italy as permanent parkland, a move that casts uncertainty over a planned affordable housing project. Assembly member Zohran Mamdani criticized the decision, saying it makes constructing 123 senior housing units ‘nearly impossible.’
The garden, maintained by the community with sculptures, benches, and greenery, has been at the center of debates for over a decade between housing advocates and preservationists. The mayor’s office confirmed the designation, effectively blocking the city from using the land for housing without state approval.
The original plan aimed to combine a 123-unit affordable senior housing development. Mamdani had secured millions in state funding to support the project, targeting seniors earning up to 40% of the Area Median Income.
Mayor Adams defended his decision, highlighting the city’s need to expand public green spaces. “We have to make tough choices and explore creative solutions to increase parkland while addressing housing needs,” Adams said, emphasizing the importance of balancing both priorities.
Mamdani called the action a ‘betrayal’ of years-long planning and accused the city of favoring preservationist interests over working-class residents. Supporters of the garden, however, celebrated the permanent park designation as a victory for the neighborhood.
With the garden now protected, the future of the senior housing project remains uncertain, as legal and legislative hurdles make development significantly more difficult.
