Elizabeth Street Garden won its fight. What does that mean for housing development in NYC?

Mayor Eric Adams and other city leaders painted the move as a win-win: the 123 affordable apartments will be shuffled to a nearby block and the garden will not be disturbed. (The senior housing development plan, dubbed Haven Green, also included plans for green space.)

But the decision not to build on Elizabeth Street Garden comes as many elected officials—the City Council, the many candidates for mayor, and even Adams—are supporting new development to counter the skyrocketing rents forcing some New Yorkers out of the city. Just last year, Adams, the City Council, and the state poured hours (and billions) into City of Yes for Housing Opportunity, a plan to build 80,000 new housing units over the next 15 years.