“The Garden is not only an oasis of greenspace within our city, but truly stands as a work of art,” Smith, 77, who has performed in the green space to raise awareness of its impending doom, wrote in her Aug. 14 letter.
Patti Smith, Robert De Niro and Martin Scorsese each penned letters begging Mayor Eric Adams to save the Elizabeth Street Garden. Stephen Yang for the New York Post
“Our great city is in danger of becoming a developer’s unchecked haven, and we look to you to help us set a lasting precedent for how New York City will protect public art and green spaces for the future.”
The trio’s last-ditch pleas were made public Thursday just three weeks before the expected Sept. 10 demolition date.
The project — which would replace the 20,000-square-foot sculpture garden with 123 units of affordable housing for the elderly — has endured years of heavy litigation and public protests, but Adams has the power to shut down construction before the bulldozers break ground.
Academy Award-winning legends Scorsese and De Niro , both 81, were raised in Little Italy and have produced numerous films inspired by the rough-and-tough past of the neighborhood — including the appropriately-named 1973 classic “Mean Streets.”
De Niro acted in and Scorsese directed the 1973 film “Mean Street,” which took place in Little Italy. Getty Images for Tribeca Festival Smith wrote that the sculpture garden is an “oasis of greenspace within our city.” Getty Images
“When I was growing up, Little Italy was more or less a concrete jungle. We used to play in the alleys. There was no shade, no greenery, no respite-something that every neighborhood needs. The make-up of Little Italy may be different, but the need for a beautiful, refreshing oasis like the Elizabeth Street Garden has not changed. I wish it had been there when I was young,” Scorsese wrote in his letter, dated July 22.
De Niro pointed to his creation of the Tribeca Film Festival as his dedication to revitalizing the character of Manhattan, and claimed the destruction of fixtures like the garden would negate the work he and countless other artists have contributed over the decades.
“I support increasing the availability of affordable housing (community leaders have identified alternate locations for development), but l’m also passionate about preserving the character of our neighborhoods,” wrote De Niro in his letter to the Mayor.
Mayor Eric Adams is the only one who can stop the construction project less than three weeks ahead of expected demolition. Andrew Schwartz / SplashNews.com
“Taking away the Elizabeth Street Garden is erasing part of our city’s unique cultural history and heritage.”
To drive her message home, rock’n’roll legend Smith wielded her Key to New York City, bestowed upon her by outgoing mayor Bill de Blasio in 2021.
“Mr. Mayor, my key is in your hands. You have the power to grant our garden the right to remain,” the “Gloria” singer said.
The New York City stars’ calls, however, have seemingly landed on deaf ears — a spokesperson for the city’s Department of Housing Preservation and Development emphasized that plans to demolish the park will go on as planned.
“The fight over this land highlights how difficult it can be to build affordable housing, especially in neighborhoods that offer strong economic opportunities, but HPD and the Adams administration is undeterred,” the spokesperson said.
“We look forward to delivering new affordable homes for older New Yorkers and we will continue advancing projects in every corner of the city to tackle the severe housing shortage driving this affordable housing crisis.”
The 20,000-square-foot sculpture garden will be replaced with 123 units of affordable housing for the elderly. Stephen Yang for the New York Post
The aging artists aren’t the only senior citizens who have publicly pleaded that Adams reconsider the neighborhood-altering project — last month more than 130 senior citizens petitioned to halt the project.
The gray-haired garden enthusiasts ceremoniously forwent their eligibility for the forthcoming affordable housing units, claiming the garden was too essential to their quality of life to be lost.
The green space — originally the site of a schoolhouse 120 years ago and converted into a sculpture garden in 1990 — provides them with a rare patch of grass undisturbed by recreational sports or playground noise.
The green space was originally the site of a schoolhouse 120 years ago before it was converted into a sculpture garden in 1990. Stephen Yang for the New York Post
Its destruction would be a devastating quality of life loss to residents “in our remaining years,” the seniors wrote.
The garden could be evicted as soon as Sept. 10.
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