City says sale, zoning steps are needed to save Bushwick City Farm
The farm, located in Bushwick, has been closed in recent weeks. It's prevented volunteers from accessing the land during one of the busiest growing periods of the year.
Volunteers fighting to keep Bushwick City Farm open say frustration is growing as the community garden remains locked during peak planting season, even as city officials outline what would be required to preserve the space permanently.
According to the New York City Parks Department, the only path to saving the site long term would involve the property owner selling the lot to the city. The space would then need to fall under the city’s GreenThumb community gardening program and be subject to the Uniform Land Use Review Procedure, known as ULURP.
The farm, located in Bushwick, has been closed in recent weeks. It's prevented volunteers from accessing the land during one of the busiest growing periods of the year.
The Department of Buildings issued a violation at the site earlier this year after determining that planting beds had been constructed inside storage sheds, according to city officials.
Volunteers say elected leaders are now stepping in to move negotiations forward.
A meeting was scheduled between Councilmember Chi Ossé and the property’s title holder in an effort to agree on a potential sale price, according to volunteers.
“Councilman Ossé has a meeting with the title holder this coming week, and we really hope they can come to an agreement and get the locks off the garden,” said Spike Appel, a volunteer with Bushwick City Farm.
Supporters say securing a purchase price is the most critical step toward reopening the farm. They are hopeful that discretionary funding from the City Council district, along with support from the parks department, could help cover the cost and allow the garden to reopen permanently.
News 12 has reached out to Ossé’s office for comment and was still waiting for a response as of Saturday evening.
