Settlement came after gardeners filed Article 78 petition. As reported in the November issue of CityLand, the City Council’s October 13, 2004 approval of the Courtlandt Avenue Apartments, a 167-unit, affordable housing development slated for Melrose Commons, would result in the demolition of several Bronx community gardens. The development site, comprising 16 lots, occupies most of the block between East 158th and East 159th Streets, and Park and Courtlandt Avenues.

On November 23, 2004, gardeners active in three Bronx Green Thumb Gardens filed a petition to stop the City’s demolition of the gardens and to declare the Planning Commission’s approval of the development unlawful. On November 24th, a temporary restraining order was granted and negotiations followed. (read more…)