The Paradox of the Elizabeth Street Garden

Background

Elizabeth Street Garden is a small community park in Nolita. In 2012 the New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA) took ownership of the property with plans for future development.

As of 2024 NYCHA is ready to develop the lot. Many New Yorker's are upset they are going to lose a beloved green space. While advocates for the development argue we're in a housing crisis and new senior citizen housing is desperately needed.

The Paradox

Our housing crisis is 100% self created by strict government control over private and public property.

Our government cannot argue land is scarce and we must use every opportunity to build while also actively restricting housing development at large and ignoring thousands of other opportunities for this project.

NYCHA itself owns over 2,600 acres of land with over 2,411 buildings. There are many equally viable sites for this project and thousands of similar ones. There's no need to fake scarcity and use up the public's good will on a minor project.