Mayor Eric Adams’ administration is making a last-ditch bid to save the Nolita sculpture garden — by designating it as official city parkland — before the incoming Zohran Mamdani administration takes over, a source familiar with the matter confirmed to The Post.
The designation was cemented in a Nov. 3 letter from Adams’ Department of Citywide Administrative Services Commissioner Louis Molina, Gothamist first reported Wednesday.
An inside look at the celeb-loved Elizabeth Street Garden in Manhattan. Stephen Yang for the New York Post
Stephen Yang for the New York Post“As we have said for months, we are committed to ensuring Elizabeth Street Garden remains a beloved community park and cannot be alienated in the future,” First Deputy Mayor Randy Mastro said in a statement.
Mamdani, the mayor-elect who takes office on Jan. 1, has promised in multiple interviews that he would move forward with evicting the beloved greenspace within his first year in office, in order to make way for an affordable housing development.
The move from the Adams administration is the latest salvo in the decade-plus battle over the private garden, which sits on city-leased land.
The ensuing fight over the space has resulted in celebrities like Robert De Niro and Patti Smith championing the effort, as well as thousands of letters to the city from seniors, students and other supporters who enjoy the rare Manhattan respite.
Local residents have fought the project since former Mayor Bill de Blasio in 2017 first pitched the plan for “Haven Green,” a private development with units specially reserved for formerly homeless seniors.
Mayor Eric Adams’ administration is making a last-ditch bid to save the SoHo sculpture garden — by designating it as official city parkland. Andrew Schwartz / SplashNews.comAdams, who vowed for years to build 123 affordable senior housing units and Habitat for Humanity offices at the site of the garden, changed his tune in June, coming to an agreement with local City Council members to build more developments elsewhere.
Mastro, in his statement, noted that agreement with Councilmember Christopher Marte, who reps the garden’s Lower Manhattan district, to build 600 affordable units at three alternative locations, though contingent on rezonings.
The deal also called for the garden to remain open to the public.
“As we made clear in our agreement with Councilmember Marte months ago, we have moved to make Elizabeth Street Garden dedicated parkland, which will make the park fully accessible to the public while also allowing us to allocate Parks Department resources to this space,” Mastro said.
Mamdani, the mayor-elect who takes office on Jan. 1, has promised in multiple interviews that he would move forward with evicting the beloved greenspace within his first year in office. Getty ImagesA request for comment from Mamdani was not immediately returned.
In a statement, affordable housing advocacy group Open New York slammed the Adams decision.
“With this disgraceful final act, the Adams Administration is once again prioritizing elite comfort over affordable homes for vulnerable elderly people. Eric Adams’ time in City Hall may be over, but this fight is not,” the group fumed.
“In 2026, Open New York will be working with Mayor Mamdani, Governor Hochul, and the State Legislature to undo this pathetic lame-duck move.”
A request for comment to Elizabeth Street Garden’s executive director was not immediately returned.
