Garden Preservation Update!
It is a fact that many of the gardens in New York City are currently
threatened by development plans. Almost all of the 50 gardens on the Lower
East Side of New York City, 25 gardens in Harlem and Coney Island, and 20
gardens in Brooklyn and the Bronx are slated to be bulldozed. Many of the
750 community gardens in New York City are now under threat of destruction
as the City sells off 11,000 lots. These gardens are now threatened by city
auctions and the HPD (cross-subsidy) plan for market- rate (luxury)
development, that will destroy the gardens, as well as displace the
low-income population of these neighborhoods.
ENDANGERED GARDENS IMPORTANT NEWS (Lower East Side):
LA PLAZA CULTURAL GARDEN IS ENDANGERED BY DEVELOPMENT PLANS.
La Plaza
Cultural Garden with park and spectacular amphitheater (sw corner of 9th
Street & Ave. C), Lower East Side, NYC is being threatened with destruction
by proposed plans for a 12 million dollar building. On Tuesday February
25th the community board 3 voted to release La Plaza Cultural Garden that
has provided a park, garden, and vital outdoor cultural center and
performance space for the community, schools and the neighborhood residents
for the past 20 years. The Developer AF&F has proposed to build a building
with 60 market rate luxury apartments and 16 affordable apartments. The
building will also include10 percent commercial space and 10 percent of
space for the Lower East Side Girls Club. It is clear that the developer
has given the Girls Club a great deal and used them to provide a guise for
the market rate development project that will lead to further displacement
of the low-income population, not provide adequate housing for those in
need living in the neighborhood, and destroy one of the ecological and
cultural landmarks of the Lower East Side. The gardeners, community
residents, and local organizations believe that it is unethical for the
developer to use the Girls Club, not only as a guise for his market rate
development plans, but also to pit one disenfranchised neighborhood group
against another. When a vital girls club that is 10% of a building project
paves the way for the destruction of a 20 year old garden, cultural and
community center this is tragic loss to the spirit of unity and peace in
the community. La Plaza Cultural park is one of the city's ecological
treasures and part of the Lower East Side Garden network that is recognized
around the world as an exemplary model of ecological balance in the city. This
magnificent park was built without public funding by the dedication,
creativity and sweat of local residents, gardeners, and artists over the
past 20 years. The local residents of the surrounding neighborhood and
community-based organizations while believing the girls club is a positive
asset to the neighborhood, believe it would better help the neighborhood to
move to another location and not destroy what has already been a living
cultural and community center, and garden for the past 20 years. To help
this garden and get detailed information call: Carolyn Ratcliffe 674-4057
The City Planning Commission on Wednesday, February 19th voted 10 to
approve the auction of 9 Lower East Side lots, including 3 gardens, despite
Community Board 3's and the Manhattan Borough President Ruth Messinger's
recommendation to preserve these gardens and recommend them for a
greenthumb lease, and despite the fact that these lots are too small for
any building development, and could only be sold for use as a vacant lot or
parking lot. The Gardeners and members, supporters, and endorsers of the
New York City Coalition for The Preservation of Gardens are outraged by
this decision to release these gardens, including Amigos Garden on 3rd
Street (between Aves B & C) that has been providing a haven for children
to play and connect with nature for the past 20 years. These gardens were
instrumental in the reduction of crime and drug trafficking on the block
and improving the quality of life of the neighborhood. The blatant
disregard of community support to preserve these gardens, including
thousands of support letters, organizations endorsements, petitions,
testimony by gardeners at City hall, community board and Borough President
recommendations, and the recent Save Our Gardens Day Parade & Rally at City
Hall on Thursday, February 13th, with 500 gardeners and supporters from
Harlem, the Upper West Side, and the Lower East Side in Manhattan, as well
as Brooklyn and the Bronx, is unjust. The City Planning Commission decision
is a complete disregard for the community and its dedicated residents that
have turned City neglect over the past quarter of a century into a thriving
oasis providing needed open space, and millions of dollars worth of
educational, cultural, environmental, and social services to the community
free of cost to the city. These gardens are an exemplary model of urban
improvisation that should be recognized as a model urban plan for the 21st
century.
SAVE OUR GARDENS DAY RALLY UPDATE:
500 gardeners and supporters from Harlem, the Upper West Side and the Lower
East Side in Manhattan, as well as Boerum Hill, Park Slope, and Coney
Island, in Brooklyn, and the Bronx, attended the Save Our Gardens Day Rally
at City Hall on Thursday February 13th. On this magnificent sunny day, the
gardeners young and old marched in procession accompanied by 15-foot
wildflower puppets and sparkling garden signs, with flowers, petitions, and letters in support of the gardens to elected and city officials
offices. The first stop was 100 Gold Street (HPD) Housing Preservation and
Development where security and representatives accepted the flowers and
letters. The 2nd stop was the Municipal building where the children
gardeners and their parents attempted to deliver the package to Deputy
Mayor, Fran Reiters Office. Here a security official refused to accept the
flowers and the children began to cry. They then delivered a package the Borough President Ruth Messinger's Office. Joan Tally accepted the gift
and attempted to call Ruth Messinger in a meeting to come a greet the
group. Another package was delivered to the secretary for Commissioner
William Diamond, of Citywide Administrative Services. At the next stop the
delivery group was able to personally deliver the flowers and letters to
Joseph Rose of the City Planning Commission at 22 Reade Street. The groups
then delivered a package to the City Council at 250 Broadway, which was
cordially accepted for Peter Vallone. Finally after a 30 minute wait we
were able to deliver a package to a representative at City Hall for Mayor
Giuliani, who came out to greet the delivery group, as we were prevented
from entering City Hall. The rally followed with speakers including garden
representatives from the various neighborhoods, and supporters such as
Naoimi Zurcher of New York ReLeaf Region 2 Planning Committee (NY state
urban forestry group), as well as elected officials, Adam Clayton Powell
Jr. IV (council member from Harlem and Upper West Side), and David Wang
from Borough President of Manhattan Ruth Messinger's office who issued a
formal address to the rally and the issue in support of preserving some of
the gardens and more thoughtful planning involving community input. We
stayed until the sun set in the cold winter night.
The following gardens were voted to be put up for sale and auction including:
Holy Mary of Mother Garden (block 378 lot 49) 9th Street between Aves C & D was voted to be released for the HPD plan for luxury development.
Urban Botanical Society on 7th St. between Aves B & C (block 377- lot 71)
Sculpture Garden on 6th Street between Avenues B & C (block 389-lots 58-59),
6th/7th Street Garden on 6th St. bet. Aves. B & C on northside (Block 389-lot 55)
6 gardens in Harlem and 9 in Coney Island by January 1997.
27, 53, 108, 129 West 128th Street and 213, 233, 263 West 121st Street are the
6 Harlem gardens slated for destruction. (another 4 gardens are on the HPD list)
Mermaid and Surf Avenue Gardens among 9 gardens in Coney Island.
HPD plan for luxury development of the lower east side
is targeted to destroy 16 gardens.
September 1995 gardens CB3 recommended
6 lower east side gardens for HPD luxury development plan
The sites listed include:
Green Oasis & Gilberts Sculpture Garden (8th Street between Avenues C & D) (block: 377 lots: 18, 20, 22, 24,25)
9th Street & Avenue C Garden (Block: 379 lots: 53-56)
10th Street Garden between Avenues B & C (block: 393 lots: 28-32, 41-44)
9th Between Avenues C & D Garden (block: 379 lots: 53-56)
Suffolk Street Garden (block: 349 lots: 1-08, 12, 13) .
The HPD luxury development plan is also targeting these
10 lower east side gardens:
6BC Botanical Garden on 6th Street between Avenues B & C (block 387, lots 121-122)
Community Residents Assoc. Garden on 3rd St. between Aves C & D (block 373, lot 56)
Casita Garden on 9th St. Between Aves C & D (block 379, lot 53)
Earth People Garden on 8th St. between Aves B & C (block 391, lots 42-43)
La Plaza Cultural Garden on 9th Street between Avenues C & B (block 391, lots 23 -24)
Orchard Alley Garden on 4th Street between Avenues C & D (block 373, lot 27)
Rodriguez Community Garden on Suffolk St. bet. Rivington & Stanton (block 349, lots 1-8)
The Garden Group on 6th Street between Avenues C & D (block 376, lot 55)
Mendez Mural Garden on 11th Street between Avenues B & C
6th & B Garden (block 4011, lots 31, 33, 35, 37-39) was on this list, but in May 1996 received Permanent Site Status under the Parks Department.
September 1996 4 gardens threatened with sale &
HPD luxury development plans:
This fall, on Tuesday, September 1996, another 4 gardens were released for development by the local Community Board despite hundreds of gardeners and community residents speaking on behalf on preserving the gardens. The vote includes:
De Colores Garden put on auction list, but CB3 recommended garden for Greenthumb lease.
(This group is currently pending with the City Planning Commission )
November 1996 Community Board meeting voted to release other gardens for development and sale:
Umbrella Garden on Aves. C bet. 2nd & 3rd Sts. was on list for sale, but CB3 recommended garden for a Greenthumb lease.
Jardin los Amigos on 3rd Street between Avenues B&C (Housing Committee reccomended for private sale.
Due to our organizing CB3 voted to reccomend for a Greenthumb lease.
December 1996 gardens up for sale & development
Magical Childrens Garden on Norfolk and Stanton Streets (block 354, lot 18) (pending w/ CB3)
SOME ACCOMPLISHMENTS (on the Lower East Side):
Saved Alerts Garden (2nd St. bet. Bowery & 2nd Ave.) and Winners Circle Garden
(4th St. bet. Aves. B & C) from slated auction on October 19, 1995.
Saved ABC Garden from destruction: (8th St. bet. Aves B & C) April 1995. Organized emergency support and demonstration to stop the destruction by the Roachco Film Co.
CB3 recommended De Colores Garden on 8th Street (bet. Aves B & C) and Amigos Garden on 3rd St. and Umbrella Garden on Avenue C for Greenthumb leases.