Haven Green Community Update – Legal Case Resolved

Last month, in a six-to-one decision, the New York Court of Appeals ruled in favor of the City and the Haven Green affordable housing development. This decision from the State’s highest court clears the way for Pennrose, RiseBoro Community Partnership and Habitat NYC and Westchester to provide 123 LGBTQ+-affirmative homes for low-income seniors—many of whom will be transitioning out of homelessness—alongside nearly 16,000 sq. ft. of publicly accessible green space.

From the drafting of the proposal to the court’s final ruling, the development team repeatedly visited the site, experienced the space, and engaged with local members of the community who both supported and opposed the development. This public engagement and participatory design process improved the project and supported local residents at risk of losing their homes. Our innovative agreement with the site’s neighbor helped preserve the affordability of over 150 tenants and nearly doubled the publicly accessible green space planned for Haven Green—a unique and creative solution to realizing green space alongside affordable housing.

The Haven Green development team has always remained open to partnering with the leaders and contributors to what has become known as Elizabeth Street Garden—to carry forward the spirit, energy, and experiences so many have connected with over the last decade. From sculptural assets to plantings to programming, it has always been our hope that those most familiar with the site would lead in re-envisioning, building, and leading the new green footprint that will be a blessing to both current and future neighborhood residents.

As the Daily News Editorial Board recently noted in their piece Growing Housing: Elizabeth Street Garden Served its Purpose Well, “At this stage, the issue of affordable housing construction is an existential one for the city, and it’s all hands on deck. The garden has had its decades of time in the sun, and now it’s time for transformation.”

We are optimistic that the community will continue to provide valuable input in the landscape design and programming planning of the new garden space and help build the site’s legacy…one that includes the future low-income seniors that will call it home. Imagine what could be accomplished if the resources spent preventing Haven Green from advancing were invested in building a shared vision for the future green space, housing, and world-class community resources.

Rather than pitting affordable housing against green space, Haven Green has become even more of a win-win-win project that achieves so many important goals our city and community needs. It’s time for everyone who cares deeply about the environment and our fellow New Yorkers to unite in building a more equitable, inclusive, and affordable Little Italy.

With litigation concluded, and after a prolonged hiatus, we will re-engage the community in the months to come. We encourage all interested parties to help ensure Haven Green is the best possible project by contributing your thoughts to the still-open participatory design survey and taking part in future design events that will help shape the expanded green space.

Thank you for your interest in Haven Green and your passion for the community.