What is
a Land Trust?
A non-profit organization of community representatives legally empowered
to act on behalf of the community, to campaign for the transfer of lands
to the Land Trust, for permanent protection and preservation as natural
open spaces. The Land Trust while legally protecting and insuring that
the land will forever remain as a community garden, allows each garden
to have its own garden life and rules, in which the Land Trust has no
jurisdiction and does not interfere. Since the City owns the land and
will not hand over the land to individuals, the Land Trust offers a legal
and non-profit mechanism by which the community can truly protect the
land and its specified use as a garden forever. There are examples of
successful Land Trusts formed to protect community gardens in Boston and
Philadelphia.
What is permanent site status?
Permanent Site Status provides an officially designated status of protection
under the Parks Department. However, this designated status can be revoked
should development become a priority. As the 6th & B Garden received
Permanent Site Status in May 1996, this may prove to be a viable and
easier option. Trust For Public Land can answer questions at (212) 677-7171.
El Jardin de Esperanza was started
22 years ago by the Torres family when Alecia Torres, a neighborhood
resident and great grandmother, began clearing the rubble and
trash filled lot. The garden was a major community asset
in a neighborhood with the least green space per capita of any
neighborhood in New York City.
In spite of the fact that there are
over 10,000 publicly owned vacant lots in New York City, nearly 600
gardens city-wide remain unprotected and are at risk of
being sold to developers. The need for low cost housing is often cited
as a reason for destroying gardens. In reality, most new buildings contain
very little, if any, low income housing. Developer Donald Cappocia,
who plans to build on Esperanza Garden, has already bulldozed
4 community gardens on the Lower East Side, replacing them with
"80/20" housing, where 80% of the units are priced at market value
while only 20% are set aside for "low income" housing. After
10 years even this small percentage can climb back up to market rate.
(Text by Jennifer Whitburn)
Why a Land Trust and Permanent Site
Status?
It is a fact that many of the gardens are currently threatened by development
plans. 9th & C, 10th BC and Green Oasis gardens all are on a list
for proposed housing sites, ABC garden was destroyed for a development
project in January 1996, and leases now clearly state that they can
only remain on the site until a development project begins construction.
As the entire neighborhood is targeted for development projects, some
that would displace the low-income community, and would destroy the
peace, tranquility, a vital open space that is necessary for a livable
community, a Land Trust, among other options such as Permanent Site
and Parks Department status, are solutions to save the gardens permanently.
Since November 1994, The New York City Garden Preservation Coalition
has been working on this proposal, a collaborative effort of hundreds
of gardeners and over 5,000 thousand community supporters. The full
land trust proposal includes photos, history and information of these
locations, as well as a video tape.
These gardens provide an invaluable natural, as well as cultural resource,
for thousands of people in the community, including: needed open space,
fresh air, trees, and flowers; outdoor environmental and gardening classes
for school children; multi-cultural centers, featuring theater, music,
arts programs, public festivals and events; inter-faith churches for
religious ceremonies, weddings and funerals; healing centers for seniors,
the handicapped, and those dying of AIDS; and a place to grow vegetables,
needed food supplements for many people.
The gardens have also removed the drug dealers from these former untended
vacant lots, removed sites of toxic waste dumping, reduced crime by
attracting children on the streets and engaging them in a positive life
affirming activity, and relieved tensions that exist between the diverse
cultural and special interest groups by uniting people through nature
to get to know one another and discover their common interests and goals.
As The New York City Administration Further Slashes The Budget For Social
Services, Why Destroy The Gardens That Are Providing Millions Of Dollars
Worth Of Social Services To The Community For Free?
The gardens have thousands of supporters in the community who believe
that the gardens' environmental, social, and cultural positive impact
for the past 25 years in the community can not be destroyed. To destroy
these ecological treasures, would only ruin the quality of life and
value of the neighborhood for everyone. In addition, open space only
increases the value of surrounding real estate, so for real estate developers
and city planners not to recognize the value of what already exists
is short-sighted.
The magnificent New York City Gardens are an ecological landmark, recognized
world-wide. They contribute not only to the health, well-being, peace,
and beauty of the community, but also contribute to the economic prosperity
and value of the neighborhood. The New York City Garden Land Trust and
other preservation options offers the community a resource that benefits
the rehabilitation of th entire neighborhood, that can truly serve the
people by protecting their quality of life they have strived to create
over the past 20 years, the value of the neighborhood, and an exemplary
city model of ecological balance for the 21st century.
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