Developers file lawsuit against Mayor Adams for blocking housing plan at Elizabeth Street Garden.
A consortium of developers selected to create an affordable housing complex in Manhattan’s Elizabeth Street Garden has initiated legal action against Mayor Eric Adams and his first deputy mayor, Randy Mastro. The lawsuit, filed on Wednesday, seeks to challenge the administration’s recent designation of the location as “parkland,” a move that could significantly impede the development project aimed at constructing 123 low-income residential units for seniors.
The developers are requesting a Manhattan Supreme Court judge to impose a temporary restraining order to prevent the parkland designation from taking effect. They argue that the designation contravenes the city’s Uniform Land Use Review Procedure (ULURP), a regulatory framework that governs land development in New York City. This procedural designation, according to the plaintiffs, cannot override the long-standing approval for housing development at the site, which has been earmarked for nearly a decade.
The lawsuit describes the designation by Adams and Mastro as an unlawful act, claiming it was an attempt to curtail the progress of the housing project in favor of private interests opposed to the redevelopment. The plaintiffs allege that the sudden declaration was made without prior notice and ran counter to ongoing discussions between them and officials from the Adams administration. The filing also suggests a politically motivated effort to undermine the incoming administration of Mayor Zohran Mamdani, who has expressed his intent to uphold the existing housing plan.
Mastro contested the lawsuit, asserting that the parkland designation adheres to legal stipulations and will ensure that the garden is accessible to the public. He described the legal challenge as an attempt to gain leverage in negotiations with the city, dismissing it as meritless and contrary to the interests of New Yorkers.
Historically, the Adams administration has shown support for the Elizabeth Street Garden redevelopment, which seeks to blend affordable housing with the preservation of green space. However, recent developments indicate a shift in that stance, particularly after Mastro’s appointment as deputy mayor, raising questions about the consistency of the administration’s housing policies amid a pronounced housing crisis in the city.
As the lawsuit progresses, the developers argue that allowing the designation to remain would set a troubling precedent for land use in New York City, potentially allowing the mayor to bypass established processes and regulations. They contend that such actions could dismantle the rule of law that governs the city’s land-use system, undermining the public trust in governance and planning processes.
The outcome of this legal battle will not only determine the fate of the Elizabeth Street Garden project but may also reflect broader implications for housing policy and development within Manhattan and beyond.
