New York Note: Elizabeth Street Garden, Special Election, 5 Times Square

May 27, 2025

Elizabeth Street Garden Development

Deputy Mayor Randy Mastro is considering cancelling a planned affordable housing development at Elizabeth Street Garden. He has suggested that the apartments instead be built on a nearby lot, which was initially reserved for a new public school. Mastro first ordered that the redevelopment be paused shortly after assuming his position last month. This project had been approved for building 123 rent-restricted units for seniors under the development “Haven Green.” The project has been controversial, with many local residents and celebrities wishing to preserve the garden.

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Sam Sutton Wins Brooklyn Senate Seat

Sam Sutton has won the special election for a New York State Senate seat in Brooklyn. Sutton, a business owner and nonprofit leader, will replace Simcha Felder, who resigned from his position last month to serve in the City Council. Democrats were able to hold onto the seat despite the area, which includes a heavily Orthodox Jewish area, overwhelmingly voting for President Trump in the November presidential election.

Office-to-Housing Transformation at 5 Times Square

The Empire State Development (ESD) Board of Directors have approved an amendment to the 42nd Street Development General Project Plan, enabling the conversion of office space at 5 Times Square into mixed-use housing. The move will create 1,250 new homes, including 313 affordable units. The project will participate in the Office Conversion Accelerator, which assists the adaptive reuse of vacant office buildings in planning and construction approvals.

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