More on the Bulldozed Esperanza Garden in NYC

H* A*

Friends:

The Esperanza Garden was the first garden to be bulldozed this year on the
Lower East Side of Manhattan back in February. Here is an update from the NY
Daily News:
 .

Date: 6/22/00
E. Village Folk Rail Against Apt. Plan 

By JOHN F. BLAZEK 
Special to The News
City Beat Section

It's neighborhood activists versus developers in the East Village once
again. In the latest skirmish, more than two dozen community residents
appeared before the Department of Citywide Administrative Services
yesterday to try to block the construction of an apartment complex.

The building site is adjacent to the old Esperanza community garden on E.
Seventh St., which was demolished on Feb. 15 - over the objection of many
locals - to make way for the apartment complex.

Residents say that the building project under consideration will not
accommodate low-income families in the area.

Instead, they said, it will cater to middle- and upper-income families.

"First Esperanza, now this," said David Levy, an East Village resident
who has been active in preserving community gardens.

"This has been a terribly alienating experience. 

"We have no confidence in either Democrats or Republicans in this city." 

Residents fear that the proposal is too expensive and will drive up
property values in the area. 

"This project poses no asset to the community," said Mario Mazzoni of the
More Gardens Coalition!

"This [building] should be 100% low-income housing."

Jose Torres, also a Village resident, added that as more high-scale
apartment buildings are constructed in the area, "low-income families are
going to be driven out, and it's gonna hurt the kids."

The final decision on the project rests with Mayor Giuliani after he
receives a recommendation from Department of Citywide Administrative
Services.
Adam Honigman
Bowne Publishing Division
345 Hudson Street
New York, NY 10014
Tel: (212) 414-8933
Fax: (212) 229-3421
email: adam.honigman@bowne.com

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