Gothamist
A non-profit newsroom, powered by WNYC.
Gothamist
Listen Live
News
Vacant Williamsburg Lot Will Become Community Garden, Or Maybe Apartments
By
Lauren Evans
Published Apr 18, 2013
Modified Apr 18, 2013
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
Never miss a story
Email address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .
By
Lauren Evans
Published Apr 18, 2013
Modified Apr 18, 2013
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
We rely on your support to make local news available to all
Make your contribution now and help Gothamist thrive in 2026. Donate today
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
On Sunday, volunteers with environmental advocacy group Time's Up broke into a fenced-off vacant lot at 99 South 5th Street in Williamsburg, with the goal of eventually turning the abandoned scrap of dirt into a beautiful community garden—a much-needed amenity in a neighborhood increasingly overrun with glass-walled high rises fetching astronomical rents.
Keegan Stephan, a volunteer coordinator with Time's Up, said the long-abandoned space was perfect for such a project: Located just across the street from the group's headquarters, the lot is oddly shaped and right next to the Williamsburg Bridge, making it a less than ideal site for a large development, but a perfect place to grow plants.
But no sooner had Time's Up taken action to beautify the spot—which is currently owned by the city—than they received some unsettling news: After more than a decade of existing as a vacant lot, some members of the group caught wind of plans to construct a residential building right on the abandoned plot where the garden is expected to blossom.
According to the city's Department of Housing Preservation and Development, a specific developer has not yet been selected, but the space is indeed slated to become part of a larger affordable housing project sometime in the near future. Furthermore, a representative from HPD told us that because development is imminent, it's not possible to use the lot for gardening.
Despite the conflict, Stephan said he's not worried about the garden's future. "I see it as, we’re going to have a lot of visibility," he said. "If it gets bulldozed, it's going to raise people's awareness. People will think that’s messed up."
Stephan said that volunteers will continue to improve the space, dubbed "Nothing Yet Community Garden," keeping their fingers crossed that the development never materializes (the Department of Buildings reveals no pending applications.).
"We’re going to work at least every Sunday, getting signatures of everyone who wants it to be a garden and not a development," he said. For only one day of work, volunteers have already accomplished quite a bit—garbage has been cleared, sticks and stones have been removed, and walkways are well on their way to being laid down. Time's Up has no intention of stopping anytime soon, and it's always looking for volunteers to help out. Interested? Send an email to [email protected], but don't blame us if all your hard work is covered in construction come summer.
Tagged
community garden
development
Nothing Yet Community Garden
time's up
williamsburg
original
Lauren Evans
Read more
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
MORE news
NYC’s whiplash weather continues into weekend with heavy winds, chilly temps, NWS says
Friday expect scattered showers and thunder, cooler temperatures Saturday, and a sunny Sunday.
By
Monica Melton
Published Oct 16, 2026 at 10:22 a.m. ET
Early Addition: Winning an affordable housing lottery is great unless it's not
Because the apartment might be very small and not that affordable, here are your early links: Congestion pricing is paying for new subway elevators, G.W. Bridge has a new pedestrian walkway, not so many airplane barf bags and more.
By
James Ramsay
News
Early Addition: Winning an affordable housing lottery is great unless it's not
Because the apartment might be very small and not that affordable, here are your early links: Congestion pricing is paying for new subway elevators, G.W. Bridge has a new pedestrian walkway, not so many airplane barf bags and more.
By
James Ramsay
Mamdani and 100+ NY officials urge parking lot owners to ban ICE
By
Arya Sundaram
NYC ambulance response times have grown 41% as life-threatening calls rise
By
Ben Feuerherd
Federal judge tosses Trump administration lawsuit challenging NYC sanctuary laws
By
Phil Corso
Never miss a story
Catch up on the most important headlines with a roundup of essential NYC stories, delivered to your inbox daily.
Sign upEmail address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .